SCHENGEN – Romania’s Schengen accession is a major priority for the country, the Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu said in Bucharest on Thursday. He mentioned the country counted on the support of the Swedish presidency of the EU. At a press conference organised by the Swedish Embassy to mark the start of the Swedish presidency of the EU Council on January 1, Mr. Aurescu also mentioned Romania’s handling of the situation entailed by war in Ukraine, describing Romania as a „de facto guardian of EU security.” In turn, Sweden’s Ambassador to Bucharest, Therese Hyden, pointed out that the „Schengen file will be on the agenda of an official meeting, when conditions are favourable,” more precisely when Austria has changed its position regarding Romania and Netherlands has changed its view on Bulgaria’s accession. Foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu also had a telephone conversation on the same topic on Wednesday with his Swedish counterpart, Tobias Billstrom. According to the Romanian foreign ministry, Tobias Billstrom emphasised that the Swedish Presidency was determined to be actively involved and to make all efforts for this goal to be met. We remind you that on December 8, 2022, at the JHA Council, Romania was not accepted into Schengen after Austria voted against Romania’s joining the passport-free area, and the Netherlands opposed Bulgaria’s accession.
