site.btaPrime Minister Marcel Ciolacu: Romania Will Join Land Schengen This Year

Romania will join the Schengen area by land this year, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said Wednesday night, quoted by Agerpres agency. The Romanian Prime Minister's comment was in response to a journalist's question regarding Thursday's meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council in Luxembourg.

At the meeting, interior ministers of the EU member states will discuss the general state of the Schengen area. Bulgarian caretaker Interior Minister Atanas Ilkov will present Bulgaria's contribution to the security of the the Schengen area.

Responding to a journalist's question about the expectations of the meeting,  Ciolacu said that the topic of Romania's full accession to the Schengen is on the agenda, but no vote is expected.

Ciolacu noted that Austrian elections just ended and it is very unlikely that Vienna would change its position on the matter a few days after the elections. He added that he was in contact with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer.

The Prime Minister expressed optimism about the date Romania will fully enter the Schengen area. He is confident that his country will join the land Schengen this year.

Romania and Bulgaria entered the Schengen area by air and sea on March 31, 2024. The reason for the partial accession was the veto imposed by Austria, the only EU member state to object, driven by fears of an influx of asylum seekers.