International

Belgian presidency of the EU Council will support the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to Schengen, claims the Belgian ambassador in Bucharest

The Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union will support the full accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area, emphasized the Belgian ambassador in Bucharest, John Cornet d'Elzius, at the conference on taking over by Belgium of the presidency of the Council. During the six-month term, Belgium aims to better protect Europeans and continue support for Ukraine.

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Sursa: hotnews.ro

The Belgian presidency will make efforts to better protect Europeans, strengthening cooperation and preparing the common future, says the Belgian ambassador in Bucharest, John Cornet d'Elzius.

The diplomat noted that special attention will be paid to continuing the support for Ukraine, but also to Romania's full accession to the Schengen area.

"Belgium receives the rotating presidency of the Council for the 13th time. Our presidency this time coincides with the European elections that will take place in June. The Belgian presidency will be divided into two: on the fulfillment of the legislative agenda of this institutional cycle and the second part on the preparation of discussions for the future of the European Union. There is no doubt that Belgium supports the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area", declared John Cornet d'Elzius. The lifting of controls at the land border represents the last important step for Romania's full accession to the Schengen area, emphasized the head of diplomacy from Bucharest, Luminița Odobescu.

The official said that, this spring, air and sea border controls will be eliminated.

"We will continue the dialogue with Austria to identify a solution to lift land border controls. We have attached the decision to implement the Schengen acquis. A declaration by Romania, Austria and Bulgaria for which a series of measures to strengthen the cooperation between the three countries are foreseen", declared Luminița Odobescu.

We remind you that on January 1, 2024, Belgium took over the six-monthly presidency of the Council of the European Union. After six months of mandate, it will be taken over by Hungary, until the end of 2024.

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