Hurezeanu says that Romania was excluded from the Visa Waiver Program the cause of organized crime / at the time of the US decision, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs invokes “political reasons”
Interim Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu said on Thursday that the reasons why the Trump administration suspended Romania's entry into the Visa Waiver program are related to organized crime and too high rejection rate. At the time when the US made this decision, the ministry led by Hurezeanu said that Romania met all the technical conditions, and the United States decision was a “political” one.
“We know what are the criteria that led to the suspension of the program: organized crime and too high rejections, refusals,” said Emil Hurezeanu, at the beginning of the Government meeting.
After the journalists reminded him that the government of which he is part claimed that Romania has fulfilled the 2.61% threshold on the refusal rate of visa, Hurezeanu said that “it is still an open discussion.”
Answer another question, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said he cannot specify a date when Romania could be admitted in the Visa Waiver program: “I cannot tell you now. It is an analysis of the US Internal Security Department.”
How did the United States motivated Romania's exclusion from the Visa Waver program
The US announced on May 2, Romania's exclusion from the Visa Waiver program, which assumed that Romanians can travel without visas for tourist or business purposes. The announcement was made by the US Department for Internal Security, which invoked that “maintaining the high standards of the Visa Waiver program is essential for our national security.”
“In view of the emphasis placed by this administration on the security of borders and immigration, the secretary of internal security decided, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to cancel the designation of Romania in the VWP with immediate effect,” said Deputy Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
The US excluded Romania from the Visa Waiver program. MAE: “We regret this decision” / Government reaction
“We are worried about the antidemocratic actions in Europe.”
An internal note of the NSC (National Security Council), unpublished previously and obtained by Politico in the middle of May, shows that the Trump administration also considered another factor: the non -compliance by Romania of what the White House considered to be democratic norms, after canceling the elections last year.
The memorandum that includes a “summary of conclusions” from the meeting of the Commission for the Coordination of NSC policies on March 14 shows that there were some internal dissensions on this measure, politico wrote.
But the Commission, chaired by the senior director of NSC for Europe and Eurasia, Andrew Peek, said it is important to ensure that Romania “supports the democratic process and is carrying out free, correct and transparent choices.”
The meeting was organized to decide the contribution to a “wider administration effort to prevent damage to democratic norms and practices in Europe in general,” according to the memorandum.
“Protecting the integrity of our immigration and visa system is essential for ensuring our national security,” said a white (National Security Daily-Political Newsletter).
“There are strict requirements to benefit from the Visa Waiver program, which it was not clear if Romania actually met when the Biden administration hastened in its last days. Separately, we are worried about antidemocratic actions, including legal ones against certain points of view.”
In fact, JD Vance criticized Romania on the occasion of the speech held at the Munich Security Conference, on February 14, when he said that our country “directly canceled the results of the presidential elections based on the weak suspicions of an information agency and the enormous pressure from the continental neighbors.”
“For years, we are told that everything we finance and support is in the name of our common democratic values, everything, from our policy towards Ukraine to digital censorship, is presented as a defense of democracy. But when we see European courts canceling elections and senior officials who threaten to cancel others,” Vice President Vance at that time.
What the Government of Romania said at the time of the US announcement
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent at the time when the US announced the decision that “Romania has regretted that the United States National Security Department has made the decision to reconsider the inclusion of Romania in the Visa Waver program.”
“We regret this decision given that Romania has fulfilled all the elements that the American law stipulates for access to the Visa Waver program. This is a political decision that is at the latitude of the American authorities and reflects the administration's priorities. Romania and the US remain partners determined to strengthen cooperation in all areas. Diplomatic and technical steps to obtain the Visa Waver regime for the citizens of Romania, ”said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
