Timisoara Mayor Dominik Fritz is sending a message to Sweden, Austria and the Netherlands, which are blocking Romania from joining the Schengen zone, saying “it’s time for Europe to be united” and that “Romanians are not second-class Europeans”. .

• “Two years ago, Timisoara overcame the barrier and elected me as its mayor, an EU citizen without Romanian citizenship. Now it is Europe’s turn to destroy the Schengen barrier.
• On December 8, the EU will vote whether Romania will join the Schengen zone. Almost all EU countries have expressed their support, but the governments of Sweden, Austria and the Netherlands are still blocking this decision.
• It is time for Europe to become united. Romanians are not second-rate Europeans. Please tell your government that you support a united Europe and the accession of Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia to the Schengen area,” Mayor Dominik Fritz addressed the three countries in an English-language video message posted on Facebook.

The Mayor of Timisoara reminds that next year Timisoara will become the European Capital of Culture and asks the Swedes, Austrians and Dutch to share his message so that in 2023 they can come and visit Timisoara without having to show their identity document at the border.

Romania’s accession to the Schengen zone will be determined by the EU Council on December 8-9, and the EU Council will publish the official program of the meeting of the ministers of justice and foreign affairs. We will remind you that the Netherlands is the main country that opposes Romania’s admission to Schengen, and there are also reservations on this topic in Austria and Sweden.