PSD MEP Victor Negrescu states that the probability of Romania’s accession to the Schengen area has “significantly” increased, and he also presents three options by which a positive decision on this can be made by the end of the year.

Schengen areaPhoto: Karaboux / Dreamstime.com

“In the context of the Justice and Home Affairs Council next week, which will discuss the extension of the Schengen area, the postponement of the vote on Romania’s entry into the free movement area, as well as the possible imminent rejection of the Dutch veto, I present the last three possible options for obtaining a favorable solution for our country by the end of the year,” Negrescu wrote on Facebook.

Variants according to which the decision can be made this month, the MEP considers

  • Option 1, which I personally propose and have supported in my discussions in Vienna and with European officials, involves the tacit approval of Romania’s accession to the Schengen area through a vote at a meeting of ambassadors of EU member states and its approval in any EU Council that takes place until the end year This form will avoid intensive discussion of the topic and the possibility of the right-wing government in Austria to politicize this topic again.
  • Option 2, is too risky because it involves the politicization of the topic, involves a discussion and a vote either in the Foreign Affairs Council on December 11 or in the European Council. There is a risk that in such a scenario, the Austrian authorities will feel the need to vigorously defend their point of view, turning the issue into an election stake regarding their European ambitions.
  • Option 3, assessed by European institutions, needs an extraordinary meeting of the EU Council, which will include this topic on the agenda. This is a possible option if the Austrian executive insists on additional demands, such as support for additional border controls, guarantees on border security or a special accession mechanism for Bulgaria and Romania.

Romania’s chances of joining Schengen have “significantly” increased

All these options depend on political developments in the Netherlands, on the decision of the new parliament, which will be established next week, and on the outcome of negotiations to obtain a government agreement, Negrescu notes.

“In the context of the existing deadlock in the formation of a new government majority in the Netherlands, as well as the mostly positive report on the rule of law in Bulgaria, compiled by Dutch experts, we can expect that the current Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the candidate for the post of NATO leader, where he needs the support of our countries to support the lifting of the veto applied to Bulgaria.

In this general context, as well as in connection with the discussions we had recently in Austria and with representatives of the European institutions at the highest level, Romania’s chances of joining the Schengen area, especially in the phased access formula, have increased significantly,” said the Romanian MEP.

The JAI Council takes place on Mondays and Tuesdays

There will be no vote in the Council of Justice and Internal Affairs (JAI) on December 4-5, whose agenda includes the entry of Romania and Bulgaria into the European free movement area, government sources told HotNews.ro. on Tuesday

According to the same sources, the authorities in Bucharest will try to convene an emergency JAI council after mid-December, which will discuss the accession in two stages, with the introduction of air borders, from March 2024. However, this is a positive scenario.

It will be recalled that the Netherlands opposed the accession of Bulgaria to Schengen, and Austria opposed the entry of Romania and Bulgaria into the zone of free movement. Elections have just been held in the Netherlands, the results of which are taken into account in the equation for the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to Schengen.

Read also:

  • President of the European Parliament: I am concerned when one country blocks a decision, for example, Romania’s accession to Schengen
  • Austrian Minister: Both Romania and Austria will greatly benefit from Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area
  • Member of the European Parliament Victor Negrescu writes to Karl Nehammer before the meeting on the extension of the Schengen zone

(article photo: DreamsTime.com)