Romania Set to Gain Full Schengen Membership This Year

October 21, 2024
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  • Irregular border concerns, cited by Austria, have kept Romania outside the Schengen Zone up to this point.

Romania will join the Schengen Area through land borders this year, according to Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.

Ciolacu informed the local media that he has more information that allows him to make these kinds of statements.

I, the Minister of Internal Affairs (Cătălin Predoiu), and the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Luminița Odobescu) have had good dialogue with our partners within the European Union, the Austrians.
-the Prime Minister of Romania, Marcel Ciolacu

Romania's interior minister, Cătălin Predoiu, stated last week that Bucharest is putting up a fierce struggle to join the Schengen Zone by the end of this year in terms of land borders.

According to Minister Predoiu, he hasn't encountered any criticism over the nation's border control measures in the last 12 months.

Irregular Migration Issues Delay Romania’s Schengen Land Border Entry

Irregular border concerns, cited by Austria, have kept Romania outside the Schengen Zone up to this point.

Ahead of the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council meeting, held on October 10, the Minister of the Interior of Austria, Gerhard Karner, said the time for full accession of Romania to the Schengen Zone has yet not arrived.

From March 31, 2024, Romania and Bulgaria became part of the Schengen Zone, by air and sea, following an agreement reached with Austria in December 2023. However, land border controls are still effective.

On October 10, 2024, Hungary, as the holder of the presidency of the Council of the European Union, reported on the progress made by Romania and Bulgaria on the full application of the Schengen acquis at the Council meeting held in Luxembourg.

However, during the JHA meeting, no vote was part of the agenda. In order to set a specific date for the lifting of controls at the country’s land borders, a further decision by the European Council is needed.

Earlier this month, The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, proposed that Romania and Bulgaria enter the Schengen Zone through land borders by the end of this year.

Related to concerns over irregular migration to Romania and Bulgaria, and in all European countries, the Hungarian PM said the EU policy on migration has failed.

The EU policy on migration failed, and we can see the consequences of this fact. Several member states are trying to find solutions. Illegal migration and the fears related to safety led to strengthened border controls.
-The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban

The Foreign Minister of Hungary, Peter Szijjarto, previously said that his country is doing everything possible to ensure full membership of these two Balkan countries in the Schengen Zone.