Romania Embarks Further on 'Schengen-Tulip' War against the Netherlands

Politics » BULGARIA IN EU | September 21, 2011, Wednesday // 13:54
Bulgaria: Romania Embarks Further on 'Schengen-Tulip' War against the Netherlands Romania's Agriculture Minister Valeriu Tabara has denied any claims that his country may have deliberately confiscated the import as an act of revenge. File photo

What has been described as a "tulip war" declared by Romanian authorities on the Netherlands will continue for a while, Romanian media have reported.

In a move seen by many as a retaliation to the Dutch decision to veto the country's Schengen accession bid, Romanian authorities seized 15 Dutch lorries carrying tulips and bulbs on Monday, claiming the bulbs and seeds could be contaminated with "dangerous bacteria".

On Wednesday, it was announced the lab results that should determine whether the seeds and bulbs are contaminated will take three days to come out, or after Thursday's EU Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting on which Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen fate will be decided, the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency has informed.

A spokesman for the Dutch Economic Ministry said his government had asked for an explanation as to why the shipments were halted, and was waiting for a response, BBC has reported.

Romania's Agriculture Minister Valeriu Tabara has denied any claims that his country may have deliberately confiscated the import as an act of revenge, stating the country wants to defend its territory against "certain pathological agents."

On Wednesday, it was revealed that Finland will follow the Netherlands' examples and veto Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen accession,

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

Bulgaria in EU » Be a reporter: Write and send your article
Tags: Schengen, tulips, the Netherlands, Romania

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria