Romania and Croatia to be a Part of the Schengen Area Soon

Romania and Croatia are all set to become a part of the Schengen area as mentioned by Bogdan Aurescu, Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister.

Aurescu from Romania spoke in a joint press conference with Gordal Grlic Radman from Croatia in Budapest. He stated that Romania and Croatia are ready to be a part of the much-needed solution that will enable the EU to manage migratory flows. He further added that it is evident that including both states will work in the EU’s favour by strengthening the Schengen area.

He also said that over 2.9 million Ukrainian refugees entered Romania through its borders since February 24 when Russia started invading. Aurescu also emphasized the significance of Romania in improving food security across the world. The country’s ports on the Black Sea and the Danube have seen over 8.4 million tonnes of grain and other farming products crossing through them to weak countries since the beginning of the war.

Radman, Croatian foreign minister anticipating an optimistic nod from JHA (Justice and Home Affairs Council about his country's accession to Schengen. He also mentioned that he expects the same decision to be taken for Romania and Bulgaria.

The EC (European Commission) summoned the JHA Council on November 16 to ensure no delays happen in taking the essential decisions of permitting full participation of Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia in the Schengen area. JHA Council (one of the Council of EU’s configurations) will vote on this decision to include Croatia, Bulgaria, and Romania into the Schengen area without internal border controls on December 8.

In 2011, the Schengen evaluation process was successfully completed by Bulgaria and Romania. In October 2022, a voluntary fact-finding mission confirmed the continual implementation of new rules and tools by Romania and Bulgaria. In addition, the countries have also substantially reinforced the Schengen architecture’s overall application in all its dimensions.

In a decision, the EP (European Parliament) invited the Council to permit Bulgaria and Romania to be a part of the Schengen area.

In December 2021, the Council confirmed the fulfillment of all the rules Croatia needed to join the Schengen area without internal border controls. And, the EP nodded positively to the draft Council decision on fully applying the Schengen acquis in Croatia.

Currently, the world’s biggest free-travel area, Schengen comprises 22 EU nations along with 4 non-EU countries.