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European Commissioner Ylva Johansson: Romania and Bulgaria are not admitted to Schengen yet

January 5, 2023

European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson announced in Brussels on Thursday that Romania and Bulgaria have not yet been admitted to the Schengen Area.The Commissioner for Home Affairs congratulated Croatia and the Croatian citizens on their accession and said that Bulgaria and Romania also deserve to join the Schengen area, but have failed to obtain the unanimous support needed to join the area of free movement of people and goods.I want to address the Romanian and Bulgarian citizens as well. You deserve to be fully part of Schengen. You deserve to have access to the free movement area. You had strong support from almost all member states, from the Czech Presidency, from the Commission, Johansson said at a joint press briefing with Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan.I would be lying to you if I did not say that I am also disappointed and I think I share this disappointment with the citizens of Romania and Bulgaria. It is the role of the Commission to be optimistic and to make the next steps. We will continue to do so and I am convinced that we will achieve the accession of Romania and Bulgaria during this mandate and that will be my priority, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs assured.Asked by Romanian journalists if the issue of Romania's and Bulgaria's accession to Schengen could eventually reach the agenda of the European Council next week, she said she would be surprised if this happened, but added that she supports any action for the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to Schengen.

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