Schengen entry helps some Romanians at the border

Romania will close more than 30 land border crossing points from the first day of 2025, with the full accession to the Schengen area, the Ministry of Interior informs. The historic moment will simplify and help the movement of citizens at the internal borders of the European Union. This change brings obvious benefits for Romanians living, working or studying in the member states. For the cross-border community, joining Schengen is seen as a step forward in terms of economic development. RRA correspondent Ioan Suciu reports from Arad county.

Reporter: Romania's accession to the Schengen area is an opportunity for cross-border workers, especially those who live in Hungary but work in Romania. The current situation involves transit through border crossing points such as Turnu, about 25 km from Arad. For these people, the removal of border controls through Romania's entry into Schengen would have multiple economic and social benefits.

-: It is very helpful for those of us who live in Hungary, here, 3 km from the customs, a very nice little town full of Romanians, because we are 25 km from the center of Arad. This entry into Schengen helps us much more because it helps us with time. Very many Hungarians in Hungary are happy about this free passage and this accession to the Schengen area, which everyone has been waiting for a long time. For me at least it is a joy.
-: We don't spend so much time at the border and everything goes much faster and more pleasant. I live in Dombiratos and have lived in Hungary for 14 years.
-Schengen is very important. We come, we have relatives here, we are from Szeged, we left in '88, we have both citizenships, we come almost monthly.
-We're on the right track.

Translated by: Radu Matei