Romania will achieve full Schengen accession as of 1 January 2025, prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, who is currently paying an working visit to Budapest, where he held a one-to-one meeting with his Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orban, stated on Friday.

"Romania and Hungary are working together to strengthen their bilateral relationship, as well as on files of interest at the European level. (...) I would like to thank, in particular, prime minister Viktor Orban for his constant support regarding Romania's full accession to the Schengen Area. And I also congratulate the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the work carried out during this period, but especially for the fact that it has constantly kept the Schengen issue on the table. Romanians have already felt the benefits of a partial entry into the Schengen Area, since this is something very tangible, but Romanian and Hungarian economic growth will be boosted once full accession is achieved. And the fact that Romania will take over the protection of the partial borders of the European Union will also have a positive impact on Hungary," Ciolacu emphasised, during a joint press conference with Orban.

According to him, the strategy agreed upon, including with the Hungarian PM, regarding Romania's full accession to Schengen "has borne fruit."

"I am glad that the strategy decided a few months ago, including together with prime minister Orban, has borne fruit and we are managing to tick our objectives today. A few days ago, I had a telephone conversation with the chancellor of Austria, Mr. Nehammer, and I told him that Romania fully assumes responsibility for the protection of the external borders of the European Union. We also reached an agreement at the level of the interior ministers, today, through the four states involved, who are present here in Budapest, and I would like to thank all the teams involved in this negotiation. Considering all these concrete things, after 13 years, Romania will achieve full accession to Schengen as of January 1, 2025," Marcel Ciolacu said.

The Romanian high official also discussed the situation in Ukraine with his Hungarian counterpart. "The context remains very difficult. While the war continues to claim lives, we all see the attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure unfolding as well. However, it is important to speak with one voice and to send a common message that we need to get involved together in the conflict in Ukraine. In the coming weeks, we will experience a new strategic reality in the Union, with the start of US president Trump's second term, as well as with the very dynamic entry into office of the new (European) Commission. And, with all these happening, Romania remains your important partner in the region. We want to work together, constructively, with you, with Hungary, for the best regional solutions that guarantee both security and regional prosperity," PM Ciolacu added.

He highlighted that, starting next year, when the elections will also be over in Romania, pragmatic cooperation is needed "for economic growth, for social peace and for a feeling in society based on the fact that leaders are focused on solutions."

"Regarding the new strategic reality, as you well know, I had a recent discussion with president Trump. And I think it is very important that, next year, when the elections will also be over in Romania and we will get out of the political logic of the campaign, we focus on the important things. We must work pragmatically for economic growth, for social peace and for a feeling in society based on the fact that leaders are focused on solutions," Ciolacu also declared.

He also thanked the leader of the UDMR (Democratic Union of Hungarians of Romania), Kelemen Hunor, for his direct involvement, as a link, between the prime ministers of Romania and Hungary, but also between the two countries.

The visit to Budapest of a delegation led by PM Marcel Ciolacu takes place in the context in which Hungary holds, until December 31, the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, having a decisive role in supporting the European agenda of expanding the Schengen Area.

The Romanian delegation includes the minister of interior, Catalin Predoiu, the minister of foreign affairs, Luminita Odobescu, the minister of transport and infrastructure, Sorin Grindeanu, the honorary advisor to the prime minister and vice-president of the European Parliament, Victor Negrescu, and the chair of the UDMR, Kelemen Hunor. AGERPRES (RO - author: Daniel Florea, editor: Claudia Stanescu, EN - author: Cristina Zaharia)