site.btaRomania's Schengen Entry May Be Decided on January 24 - Adevarul

In an analysis titled "Decisive Days for Romania's Schengen Entry", the Adevarul daily quoted Romanian Member of the European Parliament Eugen Tomac of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) as saying that a decision on Romania's entry into the Schengen area may be taken on January 24, 2024 at the next meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council.

Tomac called on Romanian President Klaus Iohannis to block certain initiatives of the European Council unless the country gets "firm promises" regarding Schengen.

Quoting government sources, the daily points out further that the Romanian Government wants to shake hands with Vienna even only on air and sea border accession, without a clear deadline for land border accession as well in 2024. Once Romania joins the "air Schengen", it is a matter of time for Austria to concede on the land border because it risks being isolated, now that the Netherlands has already given the green light to Bulgaria.

"Ultimately, the Austrians will concede like Orban: when the matter is put to the vote, if everybody are against, they will leave the room," comment sources close to the coalition, referring to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban leaving the room where the European Council was meeting before a vote on a launch of Ukraine's EU accession negotiations. 

"New signals are also expected from the government in Sofia," Adevarul points out, adding that discussions among all countries concerned with Schengen are forthcoming early this week. 

"In recent days, Romania has intensified its dialogue with Austria and also with its Bulgarian neighbours at the interior and foreign ministry level, as well as at the government and president level, so that they could make the best possible decision regarding Schengen," the daily concludes.