Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area could be in two steps

The European Ministers of Interior in Brussels are assessing the progress of Romania and Bulgaria, concerning joining the Schengen Area.

Minister of Interior Traian Igaş attended the meeting held by the Justice Council and the Home Affairs Council.

Minister Traian Igaş welcomed the positive attitude of most EU Member States, but also of those which are not members of the European Union, but are part of the Schengen Area and admitted that the work Romania did in 2010 was important and that it indeed concluded its preparations for accession to the Schengen Area.

However, the European Ministers of Interior have established that Bulgaria has not completed the preparations for accession to the Schengen Area.

Bulgaria has completed only six of the seven chapters necessary, and so Romania has to wait for the assessment in late March to know what the next steps are.

The two countries, Romania and Bulgaria, have planned to join the Schengen Area together so this is the only way it can happen.

Traian Igaş claims that the German Minister of the Interior suggested that Romania and Bulgaria should join in two stages, a first step being to join the Schengen airspace and the second one the land space.

Minister of Interior Traian Igaş stressed, however that this is still only a proposal and that Romania will review it carefully, but after seeing the result for the assessment of Bulgaria in late March.

Traian Igaş added that Romania does not see the need for an additional roadmap, as this would mean new requirements for Romania and Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen area.

Many foreign Ministers of External Affairs of several European countries have asked to delay the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Area.

Translated by: Iris Butnariu
MTTLC, Bucharest University