Interim ForMin: Discussions on Visa Waiver Program will take place in Washington in the coming days

Tripartite discussions on the Visa Waiver Program will take place in Washington in the coming days between representatives of the European Commission, the United States Department of Homeland Security, and Romania's Ministry of Internal Affairs, announced interim Minister of Foreign Affairs Emil Hurezeanu.

He was asked during a press conference at the Victoria Palace about Romania's chances of joining the Visa Waiver Program and the current stage of talks with the U.S. administration, in the context of recent Bulgarian announcements suggesting they may soon join the programme.

'In Washington, in the coming days, there will be tripartite discussions between representatives of the European Commission, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Romania's Ministry of Internal Affairs, on the one hand. On the other, the same institutions - European, American, and Bulgarian representatives - will hold separate discussions. These two tripartite meetings, with Bulgaria and with Romania, involving the American side, are due to take place. There are no definitive conclusions regarding Bulgaria's increased chances of entering the Visa Waiver Program compared to ours,' explained Emil Hurezeanu.

The minister added that, for now, a few preliminary factors are known, which will form the basis of the discussions, with conclusions to follow after the meetings.

One of the factors relates to the extent to which a 'new element' has been added regarding 'illegal migrants of Romanian origin arrested in the U.S.', he pointed out.

'There are several statistics, and we expect to be officially informed by the American authorities. If we are officially notified, we will be able to cooperate or even ensure the transfer of those individuals back to Romania. This is one of the key conditions agreed with the American side,' Hurezeanu emphasised when asked about the number of Romanian citizens arrested in the U.S.

The minister underlined that Romania must continue to meet the expectations of the U.S. Administration, stressing that the main criteria for joining the Visa Waiver Program were met last year, when asked what more the country needs to do to achieve this goal.

'There have been several explanations and unexpected turns in this process, but we know what the U.S. expectations are. Probably, by the end of the U.S. fiscal year - that is, by this autumn - we will have more answers. The core criteria that we announced at one point, which caused some confusion, are once again relevant. This refers in particular to the visa refusal rate. All those criteria are back in effect. It is very important how this current series of tripartite debates ends - involving representatives of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the European Commission, and Romania's Ministry of Internal Affairs,' Hurezeanu also said.