Dutch Tulips

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Dutch Tulips

Romania responds to the decision made on Thursday by the European Union’s Justice and Home Affairs Council to deny admittance to Romania an Bulgaria to the Schengen zone by banning import of flowers from the Netherlands, one of the countries that opposed the free-travel zone admittance of the two East European country.
International agencies report that dozens of trucks loaded with tulips from the Netherlands have been stopped at the national borders of Romania because the papers were incorrect. Checks are underway, as the Dutch authorities described the move as “blackmail.”
The Netherlands and Finland opposed the admittance of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen zone, considering that the two states, which became members of the EU in 2007, being the latest admitted to the continental body, had more to do with respect to fighting organized crime and corruption.
The Polish representative of the rotating presidency of the EU voiced his concern at the decision by saying that a promise had been made to the two states, which have done a lot of progress in sealing off their borders with non-members of the EU so that no criminal activity or illegal product may not be smuggled into the EU territory.
Even so, the JHC decided that not only the admittance was being postponed indefinitely but also that the proposition made by France and Germany to at least allow Schengen regime to the Romanian and Bulgarian airports and ports, while keeping under surveillance the land crossings, was turned down.
Romanian president Traian Basescu announced that he took responsibility for the failure of the country to be admitted to the Schengen zone. It was not clear immediately how exactly would the Romanian president assume responsibility.
The Romanian opposition was quick to ascribe the blame on the coalition in power and on the president of Romania, while analysts express a frustration at the decision of the European countries in spite of many measures that were taken to secure the border.
Some accuse the entire political class for the corruption that has been eating away at the state for the last two decades since Romania toppled one of the most brutal dictatorial regimes in Europe and became a free country.
Even the opinions on the “tulip war” with the Netherlands are divided within the Romanian society, some considering this muscle flexing a good thing, a sign of independence and even patriotism, others deeming it more like the Dutch authorities themselves, considering that its effects in the long will be adverse.
For the time being the most prejudiced seem to be the Romanian ladies, who will not have the opportunity to receive the beautiful Dutch flowers for some time.

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