Hungary supports Romania's accession into Schengen Area

Visiting Hungarian President Pal Schmitt Monday expressed his support here for Romania's joining the Schengen Area.

Schmitt said at a news conference that Romania has been well prepared to fulfil the Schengen Area's security requirement, and as the next nation to take over the European Union's rotating presidency, Hungary will support Romania to become a member of the Schengen Area.

As there was an aluminum plant waste water leak accident in Hungary recently, Romanian President Traian Basescu said that he and Schmitt both agreed to establish a group to take immediate action in case of possible emergencies at a regional level or within the European Union area.

The Schengen Area comprises the territories of 25 European countries that have implemented the Schengen Agreement signed in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg, in 1985. The Schengen Area resembles a single state for international travel purposes with outside border controls but no internal border controls.