Romania set to join Schengen land area this year, Premier Ciolacu announces

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu stated Thursday evening on România TV that „this year, Romania will join the Schengen land area.” He added, „I have more information but would prefer not to elaborate further. Both I and the Ministers of Internal Affairs and Foreign Affairs have engaged in dialogue with our EU partners.”

Last week, Austria’s Interior Minister Gerhard Karner commented ahead of a meeting with his EU counterparts that „the time has not yet come for the full admission of Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen zone,” though he noted grounds for „cautious optimism.”

„We’re on the right track, but not yet at the end of the journey,” Karner remarked, as quoted by Kurier.

Austria currently blocks the full Schengen admission of both Bulgaria and Romania. As of the end of March, Romania and Bulgaria have held „Air Schengen” membership, meaning that border controls for air and sea travel were lifted. However, land border controls remain in place and are considered the most critical.

Ylva Johansson, the current EU Commissioner for Home Affairs from Sweden, has expressed her desire to see the internal border controls with Romania and Bulgaria lifted before her term ends. Johansson is expected to step down in December or January, when her position will be succeeded by Austrian Finance Minister Magnus Brunner as part of the incoming European Commission.