(Image Credit: RMDSZ)
As of January 1, 2025, Romania and Bulgaria became full members of the Schengen Area after many years of trying. “This process began well before Romania acceded to the European Union,”, said Ödön Szabó, the Executive President of the Bihor County RMDSZ and Vice-Chairman of the Education Committee in Romania. “When we talk about Schengen, it’s important to understand that this is not a single event, but rather a process.”
It was not only a process not only because of the negotiations that took several years, but also because the accession involves two stages. Szabó explained that Romania first joined Schengen for air and sea travel, which was followed by land border accession. To obtain approval from other countries, Romania “had to convince the European partners that they could effectively secure the EU’s external borders.”
The Netherlands and Austria needed the most convincing, along with technical proof that Romania would be able to fulfil this responsibility. “Their arguments were primarily related to security policy issues. The main concerns were migration, illegal crime and border control,” Szabó clarified. In addition, the Netherlands claimed that Romania “had problems with the rule of law, citing the MCV (Cooperation and Verification Mechanism), a monitoring process regarding Romania’s judicial system.”
For the next 6 months, there will be a monitoring process based on the agreement with Austria. Mr Szabó explained that this means random checks will not be held at the actual border line. Instead, “there are so-called in-depth checks taking place within a range of 20-30 kilometres from the border, where border guards can conduct targeted inspections at any time.”
But what benefits does Romania gain from the Schengen accession? The clearest advantage concerns residents near the border, who work in the neighboring country and have to cross the border daily. For them, Schengen saves time. From a tourism perspective, being part of Schengen can “boost local tourism in border areas.” As Szabó said, “it becomes simple to just hop over for a shopping trip, visit a cinema, or stroll down the main street and have a meal.”
The advantages are also economic ones: “According to analysts, Romania’s Schengen succession should bring a GDP increase of between 0.5% and 1.2%,” Szabó indicated. Finally, he said that there is a psychological benefit as well, “a sense of freedom.” Border checks always create tension in people, either visible or subconscious.
Szabó also clarified that regarding border personnel, there are three main outcomes: some guards are being transferred to other units within the Ministry of Internal Affairs, such as the police, while others are being reassigned to other border sections, like Ukraine, Moldova or Serbia. Those who were nearing retirement age have retired.
