site.btaRomanian PM Ciolacu Says Country Is to Join Schengen by Land by Year’s End

Romania will join the Schengen area via its land borders by the end of the year, said Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu in an interview with local TV station Antenna 3. The media outlet notes that the Prime Minister's statement was made on the same day that Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner avoided giving a time horizon for overriding the veto on Romania and Bulgaria joining Schengen by land as well.

"Romania will enter the Schengen area by air and sea in a month. Naturally, even more attention will be needed; there will be bigger challenges while we are at the beginning. I guarantee you that by the end of this year Romania will enter Schengen by land," Ciolacu told Antenna 3 TV.

The issue of Schengen will certainly be covered during the European People's Party congress to be held on March 6 and 7 in Bucharest, local media said. Among the participants will be Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer who will hold talks with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on the sidelines of the meeting, Digi24 reports.