site.btaAs of March Romanians Will Travel Without Checks at Land Borders, Romanian PM Ciolacu Says

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced on Thursday that a decision on Romania's entry into the Schengen area with land borders could be taken before the second round of the country's presidential elections (December 8) and be officially adopted by the end of December, Digi 24 TV reported.

For the Easter holidays, Romanians will be able to travel without checks at EU's land borders, Ciolacu said.

According to him, the Schengen meeting could take place before the second round of the presidential elections in Romania, and in March 2025, land border checks will already be abolished.

He said that during a COREPER (Committee of Permanent Representatives in the EU) meeting in the Justice and Home Affairs Council on December 13, a decision of accession to Schengen by land will be taken based on the COREPER vote. If that comes to pass, Romania would enter the Schengen area by land in March.

The Romanian PM added that the EU will utilize the three-month period for software implementation. "The Romanians will most certainly be in the Schengen area for the Easter holidays," he added.

Digi 24 TV noted that in December there will be meetings of COREPER, the Justice and Home Affairs Council, as well as the European Council, which will discuss all the points that Romania is trying to implement to enter the area of free movement with its land borders too.

On March 31, 2024, Bulgaria and Romania became members of the Schengen area by air and water.