Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced on Thursday that a decision regarding Romania’s entry into the Schengen Area with its land border could be made before the second round of the presidential elections in Romania and be formalised by the end of December, with implementation starting in March next year.

The Schengen meeting could take place before the final round of the presidential elections, as PM Ciolacu said before the government meeting. He said that in March next year, border controls at land borders will be lifted, and by the time of the Easter holidays, Romanians will travel without border controls at the EU’s land borders.

„I believe there will be a COREPER meeting, and then, on December 13, the decision will be made in the JHA Council based on the COREPER vote. It will be in March, just like for air travel… They will take the time to implement the necessary software, so it will take them these three months. By the Easter holidays, most likely, Romanians will be able to travel under Schengen rules,” said Marcel Ciolacu.

AGERPRES