Romania and the Schengen area

Romania has the full support of Belgium, which is holding the presidency of the EU Council, to fully join free-movement Schengen area.

Daniela Budu, 05.03.2024, 14:00

The Belgian presidency of the EU Council will continue to work towards Romania’s and Bulgaria’s full entry into Schengen, in keeping with the recommendations of the European Commission, said Belgium’s interior minister Annelies Verlinden at the end of the first day of the meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels. “I evaluated the very important decision adopted last December that will lead to the lifting of controls at the internal air and maritime borders in Romania and Bulgaria starting from March 31. I wish to convey my warmest congratulations to the two countries involved and to the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council for this major achievement”, said the Belgian official.

The Romanian interior minister Cătălin Predoiu, who also attended the meeting in Brussels, emphasised that Bucharest is already cooperating to protect borders and combat illegal migration to Romania. He said Romania reduced migration by 60% last year and even went down to almost zero on the border with Serbia, following a pilot project. Only 40 persons crossed the border illegally last year. He also said that Romania wishes to continue these pilot projects and is ready with share its experience with other member states. He also emphasised that looking at the situation on the ground, Romania can help strengthen the Schengen area and that it is not fair for it to be only partially integrated into Schengen.

In Bucharest, prime minister Marcel Ciolacu gave assurances that Romania will fully join Scshengen by the end of the year. In an interview to a private TV network, he said Romania would also meet another important goal, that of joining the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Marcel Ciolacu:

“I can guarantee you that by the end of this year Romania will enter Schengen by land borders and in 2026 we will joining the OECD, the two most important goals for the Romanian authorities today. To achieve this, we must carry through the reforms included in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which is a requirement for joining the OECD. When Romania becomes a member of the OECD, it will be side by side with all developed states in the world.”

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development brings together the most developed nations holding 70% of global production and trade and 90% of global direct investments.(CM)