Victor Negrescu, the vice-president of the European Parliament, asked the ministers of the interior of the member states to validate in the future Council of Justice and Internal Affairs the complete entry of Romania into the Schengen area.
News about Romania’s accession to the Schengen area Photo: Victor Negrescu
“Romania will fully join the Schengen area starting next year. After 13 years of waiting, this injustice can finally be righted. Romanians will be part of Europe without borders if, on December 13, the interior ministers validate the decision regarding the full integration of our country into the Schengen area. Today I hope is the last debate of this kind here, in the plenary of the European Parliament“, said the vice-president of the European legislature, MEP Victor Negrescu.
Romania joined the free movement area, by applying, as of March 31, 2024, the Schengen acquis and by eliminating air and sea border controls.
“During all these years of waiting, we acted constantly, initiated petitions, discussed and convinced European officials and even changed European legislation. In the last three years, we obtained tens of millions of euros in European funds for the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area. In fact, in the budget for next year we have included an additional allocation of 10 million euros in this regard. I was directly involved in the negotiations that took place, I thank the Commissioner for her effort and involvement, and yes, Romania has demonstrated that it can protect the external borders of the European Union. I hope that the anti-Europeans will not jeopardize this goal. I thank the Romanians for believing in us and I am convinced that by the end of the year this goal will be achieved“, declared social-democratic MEP Victor Negrescu.
On November 22, 2024, under the auspices of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, an agreement was reached regarding the full admission of Romania to the Schengen area, by eliminating land border controls, which is to be formalized during the meeting of December 13, 2024 of the Council of Justice and Internal Affairs.
The result could be effectively applied from the first months of 2025. This will contribute decisively to the smooth functioning of the internal market, to the elimination of waiting times at the border and to the fluidity of traffic, to the benefit of citizens and the business environment.
