During the preparatory meeting of the winter European Council, organised by the Party of European Socialists (PES), MEP Victor Negrescu, initiator of the #RomâniaCereSchengen and #RomâniiMerităÎnSchengen campaigns, Vice President of the transnational party and of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), thanked all the heads of state and government, as well as the social democratic commissioners of the European Union for their support for Romania’s accession to the Schengen area.

He recalled that “only our European social democratic family voted unanimously in the European Parliament for Romania” and that “in the Justice and Home Affairs Council, no social democratic government opposed the accession of our country and our colleagues were Romania’s most important advocates”.

Austria and the Netherlands voted on 8 December at the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting against Romania and Bulgaria joining the Schengen area, failing to reach the unanimity required for the two countries to enter the free movement area.

In this context, Victor Negrescu called on the heads of state or government of his political family in the European Union to raise the issue of Romania’s accession to the Schengen area at the European summit and to support our country’s accession next year.

Also, prior to the PES meeting, the Romanian MEP called for a European Council discussion on Romania’s accession to the Schengen area following Austria’s veto at the EU Council and asked for a timetable for Romania’s accession to the free movement area.

“Europe has entered a deep crisis following Austria’s veto against the Commission’s proposal to include Romania in the Schengen area. How can we accept that a government of a Member State tramples on European legislation and recommendations without us acting to protect the rights of our citizens who have been severely affected by this unfair decision? Romania complies with the Schengen area criteria, a fact confirmed by everyone. Today, however, in a very difficult context, the solidarity of the European bloc is being called into question by this veto, which serves the interests of the Russian Federation. Romanians have no reason to negotiate with Austrian politicians for the respect of their rights and will not accept economic barter. We insist that the European Council discuss this issue and set a firm timetable for accession as soon as possible”, said Victor Negrescu, during the debate in the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg, devoted to the JHA Council decision on the enlargement of the Schengen area, at the request of the three main political groups, EPP, S&D and Renew Europe.

At the same time, the Social Democrat MEP warned that the European Union is entering a deep credibility crisis if it tolerates Austria’s veto against the European Commission’s evaluations and proposal to include Romania in the Schengen area.

On this occasion, he also thanked European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson for being “a true advocate of Romania’s accession to the Schengen area”.

Finally, Victor Negrescu reassured all Romanians that “we will fight with dignity to the end for this objective, we will not give in and we have many friends here who are willing to support Romania”.

As part of the steps to obtain Romania’s accession to Schengen, MEP Victor Negrescu has been the initiator of some important actions, both at political and social level. Thus, the Romanian representative in the European Parliament has submitted to the Council of the European Union 40,000 messages of support from Romanian citizens for our country’s accession to the free movement area.

Also, the debate in the plenary of the European Parliament in October on Romania’s accession to Schengen and the resolution adopted were the result of a request initiated by MEP Victor Negrescu and other MEPs.

Last but not least, the MEP also maintained a constant dialogue with European leaders who could positively influence the decision on Schengen accession.