The decision was announced during a meeting of EU Interior Ministers in Brussels on December 12, 2024. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated that Romania and Bulgaria “fully belong in Schengen,” reinforcing both nations’ long-standing aspirations to be part of this vital European framework.

This comes after years of opposition from other EU states, including Austria and, earlier, the Netherlands, to Romania’s joining Schengen space.

Impact on Travel and Trade

With Romania’s accession to Schengen, border controls at land borders with neighbouring countries such as Bulgaria and Hungary will be eliminated. This change is expected to significantly reduce travellers’ waiting times and enhance the overall efficiency of cross-border movement. The integration into Schengen is anticipated to bring substantial economic benefits, including increased trade opportunities and reduced logistical costs for businesses operating in Romania.

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu emphasized the positive implications for Romanian citizens, noting that this move will create new business opportunities and jobs. Eliminating border checks is expected to facilitate smoother travel for tourists and business travellers, enhancing Romania’s attractiveness as a destination.

A Step Towards Full Integration

Before this landmark decision, Romania had already taken steps toward Schengen integration by joining the area for air and maritime borders on March 31, 2024. This earlier phase allowed for removing controls at airports and seaports, setting the stage for the current full membership announcement.

The journey to Schengen membership has not been without challenges. Romania faced various political hurdles and concerns from some EU member states regarding its judicial system and border security. However, consistent reforms and a commitment to upholding EU standards have ultimately paved the way for this achievement.

Looking Ahead

As Romania prepares to embrace its new status within the Schengen Area, it is poised to reap enhanced connectivity and economic growth benefits. The government is focused on ensuring a smooth transition and adequately preparing infrastructure to handle increased traffic.
Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area represents a historic moment for the country and the European Union. It underscores the importance of unity and cooperation among member states while highlighting Romania’s commitment to its role within Europe.

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Austria was the last country to deny Romania’s entry into the Schengen area, despite Romania fulfilling all the criteria for joining the free economic space.

Hungary’s Commitment to Romania’s Schengen Accession

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his government have consistently supported Romania’s full integration into the Schengen Area. Throughout 2024, Hungarian officials, including Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, emphasized that Romania’s accession is in Hungary’s national interest.

They highlighted that eliminating land border checks would reduce long wait times for travellers and enhance economic ties between the two countries, which are significant trade partners.

During informal discussions on November 22, 2024, the interior ministers of Romania, Bulgaria, and Austria signed a declaration confirming that all barriers to Romania’s Schengen membership had been removed. Orbán reiterated Hungary’s commitment to ensuring Romania and Bulgaria could join the Schengen Area by early 2025, marking a historic milestone in their European integration efforts.

In Contrast, Cold Diplomatic Reception from Romania’s President

In contrast to Hungary’s warm support, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis exhibited a notably cold demeanour towards Orbán during their recent interactions. A striking incident occurred at an informal European Council meeting on November 7, where Iohannis was seen turning his back on Orbán before eventually acknowledging him with a brief handshake.

This moment was widely reported and interpreted as a sign of the strained relationship between the two leaders. Iohannis has previously criticized Orbán’s nationalistic rhetoric and policies, particularly concerning ethnic Hungarians in Romania. While he has occasionally sought cooperation with Hungary for strategic purposes, his recent behaviour suggests a reluctance to embrace Orbán amid ongoing tensions fully. This coldness starkly contrasts the collaborative spirit that Hungary has demonstrated throughout the Schengen accession process.

As Hungary fulfils its promise to support Romania’s entry into the Schengen Area, the contrasting diplomatic approaches highlight the complexities of their bilateral relationship. Hungary’s proactive stance has paved the way for significant progress, while Romania’s leadership exhibits caution in its engagement with Orbán. This dynamic will be crucial as both nations move forward into a new chapter of European integration.

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This partial membership brings exciting opportunities. Travellers can now breeze through passport checks when flying or taking ferries between Romania and other Schengen countries. This smoother travel experience should boost tourism and business activity, making it easier for people and commerce to flow freely. Romanians will enjoy greater freedom to explore Europe, strengthening connections with their fellow Europeans. Perhaps most importantly, this partial entry signifies that the European Union recognizes Romania’s efforts to meet its standards.

However, the celebration isn’t quite complete. Land borders remain closed due to concerns raised by Austria regarding border security. This inconsistency creates a bit of a headache for travellers and disrupts the true potential of free movement within the Schengen Zone. Additionally, Austria’s objection underscores ongoing anxieties within the EU about migration. To achieve full membership, Romania must continue working with Austria and other member states to address these concerns and find solutions.

The good news is that Romania isn’t alone in its pursuit of full Schengen access. The European Commission has strongly supported Romania’s full membership, and continued discussions with Austria and other member states offer a path forward. Romania can solidify its case and convince any doubters by demonstrating its commitment to robust border security and cooperation.

While the journey to full Schengen membership might take slightly longer than expected, Romania’s partial entry is a cause for celebration. With continued progress and a focus on addressing lingering concerns, Romania can soon take flight and join the Schengen zone fully, fostering a more integrated and connected Europe.

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Precisely, Austrian politicians stated they could offer Romania entrance to Schengen with aerial borders. This is only a statement, not an official act, but it is the first time that Austria seems to concede anything to Romania.

The Schengen scandal involved Romania and Austria and started when the Austrian chancellor refused to accept Schengen’s enlargement. The refusal brought along criticism, not only from Romania but from other European countries. Also, Romanians started boycotting the Austrian companies and refused to buy Austrian products.

Romania had successfully checked all criteria to join the Schengen area as early as 2011. Still, specific countries, such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria, systematically refused to adhere to Schengen. Some nuanced their position, but Austria opposed completely accepting Romania into the free economic area.

Bulgaria is in a similar situation, and Bulgarian politicians even suggested that the two countries create a “little Schengen area” between them.

What is wrong with Romania’s accession to Schengen with aerial borders?

Nothing, as the Romanian tourists will be able to avoid queues in airports when travelling to fellow Schengen member states. And everything, as this is only a bone tossed by Austria to Romania. Yet, Romanian politicians used to boost their popularity and assume this gesture’s success. One after another, left or right-wing, the Romanian politicians marched from TV studio to TV studio to show the bone tossed by Austrians and to take as much credit as possible.

Yet, the real problem with keeping Romania and Bulgaria outside Schengen is the freight cost on roads. Transporters suffer the most and lose around EUR 2 Billion yearly because of the time they lose at borders.

As long as Romania is outside Schengen, freight transport companies have lost 18-22% of their turnover. At the border with Hungary, they sometimes wait 10-12 hours in the column, which means a missed driving schedule, which is 9 hours. If a truck is stuck at the border, a driving program does not produce money; it only produces losses.

Adrian Pop, President of the Employers’ Association of Transporters “Europe 2002” in December 2022

So, what is to be done? Why is Romania accepting this bone? Politics is intricate and needs deep understanding, but Romania is undoubtedly negotiating with Austria and other countries for its Schengen access behind closed doors.

Land transport still has to wait, as far as the negotiations have gone, but the aerial accession is a first step towards the final goal.

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Ciolacu said that if Austria again uses its right to veto Romania, he will appeal to the European Court of Justice and ask the European Council, the European Commission, and the European Parliament to join in this process.

First of all, what Austria does not understand, or I think it understands very well – and you saw that the Austrian people understand better than the politicians. What Chancellor Nehammer is doing is unacceptable. First of all, I, too, am prime minister, and he is transient. You have the right to veto. The European Commission, the European Council, and the European Parliament have made a recommendation that Romania has deserved this for ten years; it is meeting absolutely all the technical requirements. You have the right to veto, but you have to justify it. That’s why I said that as long as I’m Romania’s prime minister, I won’t accept the chancellor as a hypocrite and continue humiliating Romanians and Romania.

Marcel Ciolacu, Romania’s Prime Minister, about Austrian Chancellor

The statement was offered to CNN Antena 3, a private broadcaster in Romania, when asked to confirm that Romania would block Austria’s participation in NATO meetings, as two Austrian officers have been waiting for months to be accredited to NATO. Still, their access is delayed by Romania, which asked for time to think.

While Romania respects all the sanctions against Russia, all of them without exception, while Romania helps the Republic of Moldova stop being dependent on Russia – and at this moment, I can tell you for several weeks that the Republic of Moldova has been independent of Russian gas – you, Austria, are a neutral country, don’t spend a single euro on defence acquisitions. Romania increased its GDP allocation from 2% to 2.5% to deter Russia from doing what it wants to do. And you come up as a hypocrite and say that Romania has no right in Schengen without justifying your veto at all.

Marcel Ciolacu for CNN Anena 3

The prime minister also said that Austria has continued to buy oil and gas from Russia for almost 7 billion euros since the war started.

“From my point of view, it is money that Putin uses in the Russian economy further to support the war in Ukraine, dirty cash. But you come up – although everyone proves that there is no migration through the territory, 2% – 3% pass through Romania – but you come up and say: ‘Sir, I am against’ (…) Romania loses at least 2% of its GDP by not joining the Schengen area”, Ciolacu added

He added that Romania will not impose economic sanctions on Austria but respects the sanctions imposed on Russia. 

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I think that immediately after the decision of the JAI Council last year, the unfair decision by which we were denied entry because of Austria and the Netherlands, the first person who came up with this scenario was my colleague MEP Marian-Jea Marinescu, who said that the two governments can very quickly notify the European Commission and abolish the borders between our states. I think it’s a fair measure that we have to apply immediately. I would go much further, proposing that Romania, Bulgaria and Greece abolish the borders between them because no one can limit this right; the Commission only needs to be notified. I believe this approach, which my colleagues from Bulgaria also support, must be implemented immediately.

Romanian MEP Eugen Tomac proposing Little Schengen Area

The rage against the Austrian companies continued in Romania after the Western state opposed Romania and Bulgaria’s admission to Schengen. Yet, citizens cannot do anything, but politicians can. Still, the current Government doesn’t seem to do a thing, apart from joint conferences with their Austrian counterparts, during which the Western diplomats mock Romanians and tell them that their country will stay much longer knock-knock-knocking at Schengen’s door.

It is clear that we are experiencing an abuse of power by the government in Vienna. in the EU, 25 governments say that Romania and Bulgaria deserve to be in Schengen; they meet the criteria, and the European Commission is the one that validates whether you meet the criteria or not and the Commission it also supports us in the process we opened at the CJEU. The commission supports this approach through an official note sent to the court, so from this point of view, I think it is essential to overcome this state of helplessness and act within the limits we can operate. This means abolishing the border with Bulgaria, and I would go much further, including Greece, because Romanians drive a lot on this route.

Romanian MEP Eugen Tomac

Romania and Bulgaria could abolish their state borders, but to include Greece in the equation is something else. Even so, the idea could show the European Union that the Eastern European countries, such as Poland or Hungary, do not tolerate this mockery from the bureaucrats in Brussels.

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The so-called Austrian boycott targeted all the major Austrian companies activating in Romania, including the oil giant OMV and banks like Raiffeisen and Erste BCR.

Soon after the widespread boycott started, Romania recalled its ambassador to Vienna. Also, the first state-owned Romanian companies announced their decision to cease cooperation with the Austrian banks. Besides, the Romanian Fiscal Agency announced that the Austrian oil giants are among the companies to pay the so-called “solidarity tax”, a decision contested by the targeted companies.

A month and a half after the vote on Schengen, Romania looks more than prone to concessions. The Romanian Government re-sent its ambassador to Vienna, drivers are queuing up to fill their cars’ tanks in OMV petrol stations and the Schengen scandal was replaced by other subjects on the public agenda. People forgot about their initial intention to open bank accounts with Romanian banks, and the Austrian products are still sold in supermarkets.

Is this weakness or part of a bigger plan of re-negotiating accession to Schengen? One thing is clear, though: Austria has spoiled its image in Romania, and people will definitely remember the vote on Schengen for a time, even if the government is successful in its attempt to join Schengen finally.

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During that dark time for the country, its Western borders separated Romania from the Austro-Hungarian empire. Even to this day, Romanians can’t forget the bitterness of that distant past.

More than a century later, things should’ve changed, though. Romania, Austria and Hungary are part of the same European Union, and the three countries should’ve long left behind their tumultuous past. It’s not like it.

Let’s say it politely, Hungary cannot be named Romania’s best neighbour. The constant care for provoking Romania seems to be the new politics in Budapest. The most recent incident of this kind was when the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wore a scarf with an imprinted version of so-called Great Hungary.

Austria is not far from this behaviour as well. The Austrian companies have invested in Romania, but sometimes these investments seem like something else. One of these is the investment of Holzindustrie Schweighofer, one of the most prominent European wood processors. A few years ago, the Romanian branches of the group faced public rage when they found out that the Austrian company bought wood from illegal loggers during Romania’s massive deforestation.

Now, the very same Austria is the only country to oppose Romania’s accession to Schengen. After the Swedish parliament and the Dutch government greenlighted Romania’s road to the free economic area, Austria remained the final frontier for a country which, technically, has accomplished all the criteria to join the area since 2011.

As we mentioned, Romania is unlikely to join Schengen this December. Will the almighty Austrian Minister of Interior understand that the migrants arriving in Austria do not cross Romania on their way to Western Europe? We can find out on December 8 at the soonest when the JAI Council (Justice and Internal Affairs) will give a vote on the subject.

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Strong vs. Weak Points for Romania to join Schengen area

Some vital points favour Romania’s joining the free economic area, but also some hinder the country’s

Strong points favouring Romania’s accession to Schengen

The European Parliament voted for the country’s accession.

Five times actually, the last vote was offered this month. But the Parliament’s vote functions only as a recommendation. The final decision belongs to the European Council.

Most European countries will vote for Romania and Bulgaria to be accepted.

According to the latest sources, most EU countries will vote for Romania, Bulgaria, and Croatia to be accepted.

The Romanian Government has been actively campaigning for the country to join the Schengen area.

The Romania Government has actively promoted the country, especially after all technical criteria to join Schengen were met.

Weak points that hinder Romania from joining the Schengen area

The Netherlands and Austria strongly oppose Romania and Bulgaria joining Schengen.

Both the Netherlands and Austria strongly oppose Romania and Bulgaria when it comes to joining the Schengen area. Their reason for doing this is that these countries cannot stop the immigrant waves. According to the official statements, most of the thousands of immigrants entering Europe come through Romania and Bulgaria without being stopped at the border. Recently, the Austrian Chancellor specifically named Croatia as the only country to be supported by its government, unlike Romania and Bulgaria.

If one or more countries oppose this, Romania won’t be accepted in the Schengen area.

Even the Romanian president prepares the citizens for a failure

In a recent statement, Klaus Iohannis, Romania’s president, suggested that Romania shouldn’t force a vote on December 8th, motivating the European Council not to be so eager to admit Romania in the Schengen area this time. Moreover, the decision might be postponed to a month or two until all the other countries’ inquiries are addressed.

We will see if Romania or Bulgaria are to be accepted or not. But until then, we can do nothing more than wait for the next European Council vote.

Moreover, desperation reached an unprecedented level in Romania, where an MP threatened to block the Netherlands’ interests in Romania if the country was not accepted in Schengen.

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There is no longer any doubt regarding the position of the Netherlands to Romania. For 11 years, the Netherlands adopted the same hostile attitude towards Romania’s accession to Schengen. However, they remained indifferent to any positive change in Romania, becoming apparent opponents of the country’s accession.

Of course, things do not stop here, the Netherlands is Romania’s opponent on absolutely any topic in the European Commission, and this fact has been listed countless times by the Romanian MEPs. But why?

To smooth things out with Holland, the Romanian Fleet purchases two Dutch “Damen” ships for search, rescue, and firefighting operations. These vessels with cutting-edge technology will be designed and constructed in Galati and Braila in Romania by the Dutch company Damen. Curiously, the agreement was finalized two months before Romania’s crucial referendum to become a member of the Schengen area and one day before the Dutch prime minister visited Romania.

During his visit, Prime Minister Mark Rutte stated that Romania still had many requirements to satisfy before entering Schengen. Still, it is working with the Ukrainian brothers to integrate into the EU and NATO, a moment when the Dutch insolence knew no bounds.

The Dutch position on the Schengen extension is simple: when the requirements are met, accession is possible. To be able to assess this, we need up-to-date information from the European Commission on all relevant areas for political decisions on Schengen accession.

Mark Rutte, Dutch prime minister

In reality, Dutch greed has no limitations. The Netherlands rejected Romania’s application to join Schengen merely because Romania denied them access to the Constanta port. This trade route allows the transport of goods between Asia and Europe. The Netherlands will be against the inclusion of Romania in Schengen unless Romania pays the bribe, port of Constanta, much like the Austrians did in 2004 with Petrom. This important company controls Romania’s oil production.

According to media sources, the Netherlands wants control of the Constanta port because it has a significant role in the European intermodal transport network, as it is favourably positioned at the intersection of trade routes that connect the markets of the landlocked countries of Central and Eastern Europe with Central Asia and the Far East.

If this scenario is true, it’s amusing how Western nations deploy true greedy economic and cultural imperialism while disguising their actions under the appearance of political correctness. The politically correct, anti-corruption, and anti-discrimination rhetoric of Western nations is actually a front for egotistical imperialism. Despite all the efforts made by Romania and the achievements made, the Netherlands firmly opposes Romania’s accession in the Schengen area, and it will be until Romania bows its head once again to the West.

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