The ministry cited Peter Szijjarto saying on Facebook that the issue of Schengen enlargement had been long drawn out but it was an important goal of Hungary's EU presidency to put an end to it before year's end.

"This succeeded today. Bulgaria and Romania will become members of the Schengen area from January 1. This decision also serves Hungary's national interests," he said.

He added that ten new crossings will open on the Hungarian-Romanian border on January 1, as a result of which it will not be necessary to take detours anymore for communities, families and friends living in the region.

Szijjarto also said bilateral economic relations will get new impetus by discontinuing the long waits for lorries on the border. "This is also important because Romania is one of the most important export markets for the Hungarian economy," he added.

"Finally a decision in Brussels that points in the same direction as Hungary's national interest," he said.

EU presidency - EU Presidency - EU to lift land border controls with Bulgaria, Romania from Jan 1

The European Union's Justice and Home Affairs Council has decided to remove checks on persons at the internal land borders with and between Bulgaria and Romania from Jan 1, 2025, the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the EU said on Thursday.

"It is a historic moment to finally welcome Bulgaria and Romania as full Schengen members," a statement from Brussels cited Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter as saying.

Speaking to the media before the council meeting, Pinter said Bulgaria and Romania were ready to join the Schengen zone. The minister expressed hope that a decision would be taken on approving the two member states' Schengen membership.

He pointed out that Hungary supported the Schengen accession of Bulgaria and Romania as early as 2011 when it first held the EU presidency.

"I believe that if a country is technically ready, has made huge efforts and initiated regulatory changes, then they deserve to become part of the Schengen area," Pinter said.

Pinter said the ministers would also discuss the EU's home affairs strategic guidelines, adding that the current guidelines were adopted ten years ago so they had to be renewed.

Another point on the agenda of the meeting is online child abuse. On this, Pinter said he expected to see a serious clash as there were arguments both for individual and personal rights and for the protection of children.

Orban: Romania Schengen entry 'crucial for unity of Hungarian nation'

Prime Minister Viktor Orban has called Romania and Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen zone a "fantastic" achievement, adding that Romania's accession had been long awaited by ethnic Hungarians and was "a crucial step for the unity of the Hungarian nation".

In an interview to public radio on Friday, Orban said this achievement was owing to the efforts of interior minister Sandor Pinter and European affairs minister Janos Boka.

Orban said big European countries had blocked their accession, and removing the obstacle had been "no small diplomatic feat".

He added that Hungarians in Transylvania had looked forward to Schengen accession for a long time, and now they could travel without barriers in the way.

Romanians, too, had wanted it, so a "sunny afternoon" had emerged in the history of stormy Romanian-Hungarian relations. He added that Romania "knows this and has been constructive".

After a transitional period, "we can remove our police" from the Romanian-Hungarian border, he said.

Source: 
MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881.

*********************************

You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: 
Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoop’s groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters

Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here.