Romanians and the freedom of movement

An EU member since 2007, Romania was scheduled to join the visa-free Schengen area in 2011

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România Internațional, 20.06.2019, 13:50

Romania is not far from joining the Schengen visa-free area and from inclusion in the Visa Waiver programme, the European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos said. He took part in Bucharest in a EU-USA ministerial meeting on justice and home affairs. The event was organized under the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Dimitris Avramopoulos said Romania will be very soon a member of the Schengen area, given that it has met most of its relevant commitments. He also added that the day is not far when Romanians will be able to travel without a visa to the USA. Romania and 4 other EU member states, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia and Poland, are waiting to be included in the Visa Waiver programme. Dimitris Avramopoulos talked about the importance of the cooperation between the US and the EU in terms of border management, security and migration.

In March, the EU announced that as of 2021 US citizens will need visas in order to travel into Schengen countries. The European Commission had repeatedly requested Washington to waive visa requirements for the citizens of the 5 EU member states, because under the EU rules, all European citizens must have equal rights.

Attending the meeting in Bucharest was also the US Attorney General William Barr, who on the sidelines of the ministerial event also had talks with Romanian officials, including President Klaus Iohannis and PM Viorica Dancila. The latter requested the support of the US Attorney General for Romania to be accepted in the Visa Waiver programme.

The Prime Minister also said the Government of Romania is determined to find the best solutions to carry on the reform of the judiciary and criminal legislation, in line with Romanias international commitments, as well as with the recommendations of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, the Venice Commission, GRECO and the USA. The American official expressed his appreciation for the solid Strategic Partnership with Romania, which, he said, is the United States most reliable ally in the region.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)