The National Self-Government of Romanians in Hungary (ATRU) believes that Romania’s integration into the Schengen Area would further boost relations between Romanians and Hungarians, which have reached „an unprecedented level,” and recalls that Romania has been waiting for a favourable answer in this respect for more than 10 years, even though it has met the accession criteria, Agerpres reports.

The president of ATRU, Gheorghe Cozma, on Monday told Agerpres that Romania’s accession to Schengen „would ease the daily commute” for thousands of Romanians who live in Hungary but work in Romania or for their children who study in our country, but on the other hand, it would stimulate the business environment.

„The Schengen Area is one of the most concrete achievements of the European Union. Romania’s entry into this area of free movement, although it has met all the requirements, has been postponed for more than ten years. Accession would change the perception of the border. Romania and Hungary have common interests as strategic partners, as neighbouring states, as members of the EU and NATO. For this reason, but also for other reasons, the people on both sides of the border have a good relationship. The relationship between the two states is defined by a close interdependence,” said Cozma.

He stated that Romania is the 4th most important export market for Hungary and the 6th most important destination for Hungarian capital.

„More than 12,000 Hungarian commercial companies operate in Romania and there are more than 6,000 Romanian-Hungarian joint companies in Hungary. If we look at the everyday life, cooperation has reached unprecedented levels, and these trends could be stimulated even more by Romania’s integration into the Schengen Area, due to the mobility it brings,” said the president of ATRU.

He also said that in recent years „the number of accommodation nights booked by Romanian travelers has increased by 60pct,” and many „Romanian citizens from around the border settle in neighbouring towns in Hungary and commute to Romania every day.”

„Integration would make the daily commute easier, there would be no need to stop at the border for control,” added Gheorghe Cozma.

According to ATRU, in Hungary there is a community of approximately 36,000 Romanians, concentrated in localities close to the border with Romania. Most Romanians live in the Bekes county, for example in the city of Gyula, neighbouring the town of Varsand in Arad, where approximately 5,000 Romanians live.

Agerpres