During his first official visit abroad, to France, Romania’s new President, Klaus Iohannis, said that he was optimistic that Romania would soon be allowed to join the EU’s border-free Schengen zone.

“I’ve asked for France to support our entering the Schengen area. I do hope that this will happen very soon,” Iohannis said in Paris after meeting French President Francois Hollande.

The Romanian leader said he and Hollande had also anti-terrorism measures, as well the tense situation in Ukraine, which is Romania’s neighbour. France and Germany are currently leading a last-chance diplomatic bid to prevent the spread of war in Ukraine.

France was one of the EU members that in recent years opposed Romania’s accession to the Schengen area, saying the country had not made enough progress in fighting corruption and in curbing organized crime.

Other countries also opposed Romania’s accession to the border-free area, which has blocked further progress, as unanimity is needed before a new country can join the Schengen area.

Iohannis, who unexpectedly won the presidential election in Romania on November 16, has said he will work had to get Romania into the Schengen area this year.

Analysts say Iohannis’s visit to France marks an overall change in emphasis in Romania’s foreign policy, away from the Atlantic, towards Europe.

“While former President Traian Basescu focused in his mandate on better relations with the US and NATO, Iohannis seems much more interested in the EU and European issues,” political analyst Emil Hurezeanu said.

Iohannis was planning to go to Germany this week, but postponed his visit as a sign of respect for the former German president, Richard von Weizsäcker, whose funerals will take place on February 11.

On February 12, Iohannis will attend the European Council in Brussels.