Romanian President Welcomes Full Schengen Membership for Romania

The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis has also welcomed the full accession of Romania to the Schengen Zone.

Iohannis expressed his satisfaction regarding the recent agreement that allows full membership for Romania.

On November 22, in a meeting held between the interior ministers of Austria, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary as holders of the presidency of the Council of the European Union an agreement that paves the way for full Schengen accession was reached, Schengen.News reports. 

Soon after the meeting, the Prime Minister of Romania, Marcel Ciolacu, said that Romania would enter the Schengen zone, in terms of land borders from January 1, 2025. 

Since Romania and Bulgaria are a package deal on their goal to become part of the Schengen Zone, the land border accession of Romania would also extend to Bulgaria. 

Full Accession of Romania & Bulgaria to Schengen Would Fulfill a Priority of Hungary 
Recently, the Minister for European Union Affairs, János Bóka, said that the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Zone, in terms of land borders, would fulfill one of the main priorities of Hungary, as the current holder of the presidency of the Council of the EU.

The minister also expressed his hopes that the land border accession of these two Balkan countries may come on January 1, 2025.

A Vote Anticipated by Mid-December 
Recently the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, who participated in the meeting of November 22, said that a vote regarding the full accession of Romania and Bulgaria to Schengen Area could be anticipated for December 12-13, in the following EU Council for Justice and Home Affairs meeting. 

Romania and Bulgaria entered the Schengen Zone on March 31, 2024, partially, through air and sea but not by land borders. 

On November 26, numerous members of the European Parliament urged for a favourable decision by the Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA) in the upcoming meeting of December 12-13, in terms of full Schengen accession for Romania and Bulgaria.

Source: https://schengen.news/romanian-president-welcomes-full-schengen-membership-for-romania/