German Chancellor Olaf Scholz declared on Monday that Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania meet the criteria for joining the Schengen Area, according to Reuters.
Scholz said that “Schengen is one of the greatest achievements of the European Union and we must protect and develop it”. In his view, “this means closing the remaining gaps”, adding that “Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria meet all the technical requirements for full membership”. “I will act so that they become full members”, the German chancellor vows.
Scholz is not the only European leader who voiced support for Romania’s accession to Schengen, others did, too, while the European Parliament voted for this several times.
During his visit to Romania in June, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, said that “France is with Romania” regarding the accession to the Schengen area. “We want this file to progress, to move forward. For so many years now, France has been with Romania”, said President Macron back then.
During the past years, Germany and the Netherlands have been the main opponents of Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area.
By joining the Schengen Area, Romanian citizens and cargo carriers will no longer have to go through the border check procedure with member states in Schengen, which will lead to a significant shortening of waiting times at the border. For example, if Romania and Bulgaria also enter Schengen, the road to Greece will no longer be marked by long waits at Romanian-Bulgarian customs and Bulgarian-Greek customs.
President Klaus Iohannis sent a message on Twitter on Monday, thanking the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, for supporting Romania’s accession to the Schengen area.
Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, also welcomed the announcement of the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, recalling that Romania met the conditions to be accepted into Schengen Area.
“Excellent news! Based on our fulfillment of the Schengen accession criteria, Romania’s political and diplomatic efforts will continue to help achieve this extremely important goal for Romanian citizens,” Aurescu posted on Twitter.