Romania Expresses Optimism for Full Schengen Membership Following November 22 Meeting with Karner
Key Takeaways
1. Romania’s Interior Minister, Cătălin Predoiu, expressed optimism about the country's prospects for full Schengen accession ahead of the November 22 meeting with Austria’s Gerhard Karner.
2. Predoiu emphasized that while progress has been made, no final decisions have been reached.
3. Romania and Austria will discuss the full Schengen membership of Romania and Bulgaria during the upcoming meeting.
Romania’s Interior Minister, Cătălin Predoiu, has indicated that the groundwork for Romania’s full accession to the Schengen Area is progressing well.
In a recent statement to Digi 24, Predoiu noted that while there are positive signs, the outcome remains uncertain, with no predetermined agreements in place.
"We fought for these chances. The progress has been steadily improving, and there are possibilities for a favorable outcome. However, I must emphasize that nothing is set in stone, and the discussions may lead to various outcomes," said Predoiu.
The November 22 meeting between Predoiu and Austria’s Interior Minister, Gerhard Karner, will focus on Romania’s potential full Schengen membership. Topics such as irregular migration, border security, and return policies will also be addressed.
Romania officially entered Schengen by air and sea on March 31, 2024, but land border integration remains pending due to Austria's longstanding concerns over irregular migration. Despite these reservations, recent reports from Austria’s Kurier newspaper suggest the country is now preparing to support the full Schengen membership of both Romania and Bulgaria.
Romanian and Austrian Cooperation
Romania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu, has confirmed ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) in preparation for the November 22 discussions. Odobescu emphasized the importance of presenting strong arguments to address concerns raised by Austria.
"The Minister of the Interior will engage with the Austrian Presidency and counterparts from Austria and Bulgaria. Following this, we will need to secure consensus from all member states, finalize the timeline, and address technical details," Odobescu stated.
She also highlighted that while signals for Romania’s full Schengen accession by year-end are positive, it’s premature to predict the outcome of the upcoming negotiations.