The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced on Saturday evening that the Decision on the application of the acquis of the Schengen Agreement in Romania and Bulgaria was adopted.

“Today, December 30, 2023, at 22:38, the EU Council adopted a Decision on the application of the Schengen acquis in Romania and Bulgaria. According to the Decision of the EU Council, the Community acquis will apply to the air and sea borders from March 2024. Also, according to the Decision of the Council of the EU, during 2024 the Council will make efforts to make a decision on the abolition of control at the land border,” the ministry says.

What measures does the Council’s decision provide for?

Saturday’s decision of the EU Council foresees a number of measures to strengthen border control and combat illegal migration, as well as the application of the Dublin Regulation.

“Romania is already applying the above-mentioned measures as early as 2023. The decision of the Council of the EU does not contain any new obligations for Romania,” the MAI also reported.

• Read also: Austria confirms agreement on “Air Schengen” with Romania and Bulgaria / No negotiations on full membership / 3 conditions of Vienna

Discussions are ongoing regarding the land border

The decision of the EU Council is accompanied by two additional political declarations, one tripartite Austria-Romania-Bulgaria and the other by the European Commission alone, which also provide for measures to strengthen border controls and the application of the Dublin Regulation, as well as a political commitment to continue discussions in 2024 on the application of the full Schengen acquis, including regarding land borders.

Both the EU Council Decision and the accompanying political declarations reflect the political agreement reached by Austria, Romania and Bulgaria on 23 December 2023.

Three conditions of Vienna

The agreement was accompanied by three conditions put forward by Austria. They include:

• increasing the deployment of the EU border protection agency Frontex in Romania and Bulgaria
• allocation by the European Commission of funds for the protection of the external borders of these countries
• strengthening of land border controls and reception of asylum seekers from Austria, especially from Afghanistan and Syria, Romania and Bulgaria.

On December 8, 2022, Austria blocked the extension of the Schengen zone to Romania and Bulgaria, citing an increase in the number of asylum seekers. The Netherlands was also against Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen.

The Commission welcomes the Council’s decision

In a press release, the European Commission welcomes today’s decision by the Council to join Romania and Bulgaria in the Schengen area, starting with the lifting of air and sea border controls in March 2024.

“The entry of the two countries will boost travel, trade and tourism and strengthen the domestic market. Discussions on another decision to abolish land border controls will continue throughout 2024. The extended Schengen area will give the EU, as a Union, more power both domestically and internationally,” the statement said.

President von der Leyen said:

“Today’s decision marks a historic moment for Bulgaria and Romania. This is a day of great pride for the citizens of Romania and Bulgaria. From March, they will be able to freely cross internal sea and air borders without border controls. This is a big step forward for the two countries and for the Schengen area as a whole. I extend my congratulations to Bulgaria and Romania: this great achievement was made possible by your efforts, dedication and perseverance. Thanks to you, the Schengen zone will become even stronger for the benefit of all European citizens.”

SIDE

Cholaku: I promised, I did!

“I promised, I did! Now it’s official: from March air and sea borders will be abolished, we will be able to issue Schengen visas. After 13 years of failures and humiliations, this government started a process that is irreversible today. Next year, we will continue our efforts to finally close this process!”, the Romanian Prime Minister wrote on Facebook.

MEP Vlad Gheorghe: I challenge Cholak to publish the protocol in which he handed over everything to the Austrians for the “aero-Schengen” scam

“I challenge Cholak to publish the report in which he handed over everything to the Austrians for the “aero-Schengen” scam! If he doesn’t make it public, I will take him to court and the truth will still come out,” MEP Vlad Gheorghe wrote on Facebook.

Read also:

• How the Austrian political class reacted to Romania’s partial accession to the Schengen Agreement
• Çolaku responds to criticism of partial entry into Schengen: This is the first concrete result in 13 years / Many expressed their opinion, but achieved very little