EU ambassadors today approved Romania’s accession to the Schengen area and its land borders, starting January 1, 2025, President Klaus Iohannis announced on Wednesday in a Facebook post. A similar announcement was made by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. The decision was made after repeated delays and 17 years after Romania joined the European Union.
According to the announcement, the accession was agreed today in the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European Union (COREPER). It is to be formalized in the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council, which will meet on December 12.
“An important moment today for Romania! EU ambassadors have agreed to full accession to Schengen and with land borders, starting January 1, 2025. The JHA Council in December will formalize this decision, long awaited, legitimately, by all Romanian citizens,” Klaus Iohannis wrote on X.
In his turn, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced, in a message on Facebook, that “Romania’s full accession to the Schengen area from January 1 was agreed in Brussels, in the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European Union (COREPER).”
Accession with land borders is the last stage in Romania’s process of joining the Schengen area, which has been met with refusal on several occasions by states such as Austria, the Netherlands and France. Romania joined this year, on March 31, with air and sea borders.
After using its veto in December 2022, Austria confirmed on December 30, 2023 the agreement with Romania and Bulgaria on “Air Schengen”, which allows entry by air without border controls. This agreement entered into force on March 31, and now Austria has also raised its objections to accession with land borders.
Yupiiii…. now I can drive to Greece faster. At-least 2hrs faster.