site.btaRomania and Bulgaria Will Be in Schengen from January 2025, Romanian MEPs Believe

A debate on the full membership of Bulgaria and Romania in Schengen and the lifting of controls at the land borders will take place on Tuesday afternoon in the plenary hall of the European Parliament. It was initiated by the parliamentary group of Renew Europe and Bulgarian MEP Elena Yoncheva.

On the eve of the debate, BTA asked Romanian MEPs from different political groups in the EP for comments on the issue. Almost all of those interviewed expressed the opinion that from 2025 Bulgaria and Romania will move without border checks in the Schengen area. But there is no lack of reservations. 

"At least declaratively there is a consensus to finally, after 13 years of humiliation, accept us into the Schengen area. I hope that on December 12 the Justice and Home Affairs Council will adopt this decision, so long awaited in both Sofia and Bucharest. I am convinced that from next year we will move freely in the European Union", said Eugen Tomac (Renew Europe-People's Movement Party).

Dan Barna (Renew Europe - Save Romania Union) said he had seen the text of the informal agreement. 

"We will have to wait for the official decision. I will be happy if one is made in December, but I hesitate to comment on the various details, such as border controls," he noted. 

Maria Grapini (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament - Social Democratic Party) expressed hope that in January 2025 the two countries will be in Schengen. 

"But we will see the effect of the elections in Romania. It will be a pity if they lead to a change of opinion in the member states that have to vote at the Justice and Home Affairs Council," she added.

According to Nicolae Stefanuta (Greens/European Free Alliance - independent), the election of an extremist candidate could complicate matters.

"The Justice and Home Affairs Council is coming up and we, in Romania, have to be careful who we vote for. But you cannot have one foot in Schengen and the other outside. We will see Romania and Bulgaria in Schengen," said the Romanian independent MEP, who is also one of the Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament.

"We suffered together, we should rejoice together. Romania and Bulgaria were underestimated for many years, even though they fulfilled the technical criteria. We had many economic losses because we are not fully in Schengen. Here, as a result of negotiations, it looks like we will have full access from January 1, 2025," said Adrian Axinia (European Conservatives and Reformists-Alliance for the Union of Romanians).

He does not expect any negative votes at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on December 12.

"In the first half of 2025 we will have full access to Schengen, which is important for Bulgarian and Romanian transport companies. This will be a big economic boost. In Romania, for example, the transport sector contributes significantly to the gross domestic product. I am convinced that Bulgarian and Romanian transport companies will become much more competitive in relation to Western companies and will help to minimise the gap between the eastern part of Europe and the west. We need to recover a lot because of those years of communism that we want to forget," Axinia added.