The news of Romania and Bulgaria’s partial accession to the Schengen Zone in March was met with enthusiasm by the National Union of Road Hauliers from Romania (UNTRR). However, the organisation is calling for a clear date for the two countries’ land borders’ accession as well, according to a report by SchengenVisaInfo.com.
A recent report by UNTRR revealed that remaining outside the passport-free travel zone has cost the road freight industry billions in losses. Secretary-General Radu Dinescu emphasized the urgency of Romania’s land borders’ accession for road freight carriers, citing prolonged waiting times as a penalty for their efficiency.
In addition to the road freight industry, coach operators are also concerned about the additional administrative work that may come with the partial accession, such as verifying passenger data in the European Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).
Dinescu called for a definite date for Romania’s Schengen entry with land borders and stressed that the criteria for accession should not exceed the general framework and technical requirements for admission.
He noted that Romania had met all the necessary conditions for admission back in 2011 and emphasized that there is no technical justification for the delay, attributing the reasons to political motives aimed at punishing Romania and Bulgaria.
Bucharest and Sofia are set to join the Schengen Area by air and sea from March 2024, following an agreement between Romania, Bulgaria, and Austria. The accession through land borders is expected to be discussed this year.
Vienna had previously blocked Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen Zone over concerns related to irregular migration. However, in December of last year, Austria’s Interior Minister presented the “Air Schengen” proposal, leading to the partial accession agreement.
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