Romania could join the Schengen area in stages

Hungarian Interior minister Sandor Pinter stated at a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee for European Affairs held on Monday, that Romania and Bulgaria could join the Schengen area in terms of their airport infrastructure, land boarder controls being maintained.

Hungarian Interior minister, who attended the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee, spoke about topics also addressed at the Justice and Home Affairs Council, which was held on 24 and 25 February. Pinter said that similar situations had been encountered so far and this could facilitate Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area.

Sandor Pinter is looking into the possibility that the Schengen area could open the air borders for Romania and Bulgaria starting June and a “road map” toward accession will be offered to the two countries during the Hungarian presidency of the European Union.

Hungarian Interior minister also stated that, according to Hungarian news agency MTI, Romania should not join the Schengen area separately from Bulgaria and draws attention that both countries have made significant efforts in preparing for accession.

He continued that the Schengen area evaluation group adopted the technical report on Romania’s Schengen accession, while Bulgaria is aimed at meeting all technical requirements by 14 March. It is expected that the results of the technical evaluation process are made public in June.

Hungary holds the six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The technical report on Romania’s Schengen accession was adopted by the Schengen area evaluation group, in Brussels.

The report on Bulgaria’s technical preparedness has not yet been adopted. The Government in Sofia assured that Bulgaria will be fully qualified for Schengen accession by the end of February.

Romania and Bulgaria have set themselves the objective of entering the Schengen area by the end of March, but France, Germany and Finland oppose newcomers to border-free area, urging more progress in the fight against corruption and organized crime. The requirements last presented are addressed to Bulgaria.

Translated by: Mihaela Grigoraş
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University