Germany Wants Romania in Schengen Zone This Year
German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has conveyed to Romanian leaders Germany’s support for Romania’s accession to the Schengen Zone this year.
Scholz’s comments came during his visit to Bucharest, where he met with the Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, as well as Moldovan President, Maia Sandu, emphasising that Germany wants Romania in the borderless area of Schengen this year, AtoZSerwisPlus.de reports.
“Germany is firmly on Romania’s side. This also means (…) the goal of Romania finally obtaining full Schengen membership this year,” Scholz said in a joint press statement with the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, Xihuanet reports.
At the same time, President Iohannis has considered that Romania’s accession to Schengen Zone would further strengthen this zone.
Iohannis noted that Romania fulfils its role as a guarantor of security at the external border, stressing that it is something recognised in Europe, while, according to him joining Schengen Zone will further strengthen this area.
Romanian Prime Minister, Nicolae Ciuca, welcomed Germany’s support regarding Romania’s accession to the Schengen Zone following talks with Scholz.
Authorities of both countries emphasised the importance of continuing the EU enlargement process and also fulfilling commitments to the Western Balkans.
Recently, Spanish authorities expressed their support to Romania in becoming the newest Schengen Member.
During his visit to the Romanian capital, Spain’s Foreign Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, reiterated his country’s support for Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen Zone.
His comments came following a work meeting held with his Romanian and Bulgarian counterparts ahead of the Spanish Presidency of the EU in the second half of this year.
“We will work as hard as possible to unlock this issue, and I am confident that the formal meeting of the Council of Interior Ministers scheduled for next September will be the moment to finally achieve results,” Grande-Marlaska said.
Both Romania and Bulgaria have been attempting to join the Schengen Zone for years now; however, such a process has not been finalised yet. Last year, Austria blocked the accession of these two Balkan countries into the Schengen Zone.
Austria opposed Romania’s accession to Schengen after concerns about the rising tide of illegal migration through Bulgaria and Romania.
But last month, the President of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen, stressed that both Romania and Bulgaria are ready to become part of the Schengen Area, disassociating himself from the comments of the country’s chancellor, Karl Nehammer, who stressed that he continues to remain against the further expansion of Schengen.
