Romania to Join Schengen Area for Land Borders Starting January 1, 2025

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has announced that Romania will officially join the Schengen Area for land border crossings starting January 1, 2025. The declaration was made during a joint press conference in Budapest with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, following discussions held with interior ministers from Austria, Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary.

“We have reached an agreement at the level of the interior ministers of the four involved states present in Budapest, and I want to thank all the teams involved in the negotiations. Considering all these concrete aspects, I am confident that after 13 years, Romania will achieve full Schengen accession by the end of the year,” stated Ciolacu.

Romania’s full accession to the Schengen Area goes hand in hand with Bulgaria’s inclusion, as the two countries have pursued membership as a package deal. This significant milestone will enable both nations to eliminate land border checks, finalizing their integration into the EU’s visa-free travel area.

Ciolacu’s visit to Budapest was part of a broader diplomatic effort tied to Hungary’s presidency of the Council of the European Union. The interior ministers’ meeting focused on crafting a joint strategy to facilitate the full integration of Romania and Bulgaria into Schengen. This included addressing additional measures and frameworks to ensure seamless implementation.

In a critical breakthrough, Austria has agreed to lift its veto on Romania and Bulgaria’s land border accession. Previously, Austria had expressed concerns about irregular migration, which led to its opposition despite the two countries joining Schengen by air and sea on March 31, 2024. With this decision, Austria has removed the last significant hurdle to Romania and Bulgaria’s full membership.

During the Budapest press conference, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán emphasized that all criteria have been satisfied for Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen. “We agreed that from January 1, Romania will become a member of the Schengen Area not only by air and sea, but also by land, a decision for which all EU interior ministers need to be taken,” Orbán remarked.

Hungarian Interior Minister Sándor Pintér also acknowledged the substantial progress made by Romania and Bulgaria, stating, “We are… one step closer to Bulgaria and Romania becoming full members of Schengen.”

The discussions in Budapest also saw participation from European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, who expressed optimism about the forthcoming EU Council for Justice and Home Affairs meeting scheduled for December 12-13. Johansson indicated that a formal vote on this matter is expected during the session. She voiced hopes that border controls at land crossings would be entirely removed by January 2025.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola welcomed the agreement, highlighting its broader significance for European integration. “A stronger Schengen means a stronger Europe,” she commented.

The decision marks the culmination of extensive negotiations and a long journey for Romania and Bulgaria, both of which have waited over a decade for full Schengen membership. Final approval from EU interior ministers in December will formally seal the agreement, ensuring that Romania and Bulgaria achieve their long-anticipated goal.

By fLEXI tEAM