Bucharest, December 12, 2024 – RBJ – Although they have fulfilled technical requirements for protecting the security of free movement since 2011, Romania and Bulgaria have only today received the “voucher” of belonging to the Schengen area. The European Union’s Interior Ministers the European Union’s Interior Ministers made a unanimous decision, after years of politicians and authorities from the Netherlands and Austria refusing this “passport” to the two states in southeastern Europe. All kinds of “innovative” obstacles were identified by the governments or parliaments of the two countries, although they did not have the same behavior towards Croatia, an EU member with many unresolved problems, including those regarding good neighborliness and organized crime.
When Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU, in 2007, the existence of the Schengen area was written into the fundamental law. The two countries signed the European Union (EU) accession agreement with an eye on the free movement area. It was both a right and an obligation derived from the Accession Treaty. This will only happen from 1 January 2025, 18 years after Romania and Bulgaria became EU members.
From the beginning of next year, Romania and Bulgaria will be members of the Schengen area: land, air and maritime.
The Prime Minister of Romania, Marcel Ciolacu, declared that Romania’s membership as a full member of the Schengen area, starting from 1 January 2025, represents “a historic decision”.
For Romanian companies doing business with partners from European states, the elimination of border controls will facilitate trade and reduce logistics costs, the Prime Minister said in a press conference held at Victoria Palace.
“It is a historic decision that was taken a short time ago at the JHA Council meeting in Brussels. This is, in fact, a victory for justice and national dignity and a clear signal that we will never accept being second-class citizens in Europe. It is – above all – a triumph of all Romanians, regardless of their political option or social situation. It is a victory of teamwork, for the good of Romania, because opinion leaders from home and abroad, public figures, ordinary people, along with ministers, diplomats, MEPs and technicians from dozens of institutions contributed to this moment. For Romanian companies that do business with partners from European states, the elimination of border controls will facilitate trade and reduce logistics costs. This means that Romanian goods will become more competitive, which will stimulate the economy and create new business opportunities and jobs”, said Ciolacu.
Schengen is the largest free travel area in the world. Border checks between France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg were first dropped in 1985. The Schengen area now covers 29 countries (25 of the 27 member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) and 420 million people. Controls at the internal borders with Cyprus have not yet been lifted, and Ireland is not part of the Schengen area.
