—
Annual Report on the functioning of the Schengen area (debate)
The Schengen Agreement aims to strengthen a European area to face continuous challenges and combat security threats. Schengen membership involves cross-border participation to eliminate organised crime or terrorism. In a COVID-19 pandemic world, the Member States of the European Union and the Schengen area have introduced internal border controls as a unilateral response to new challenges. It is time to demonstrate that our values are stronger than the current problems and to facilitate free movement again. Romania and Bulgaria must be full members of the Schengen area. In view of the numerous calls for full application of the provisions of the acquis, the abolition of controls at the internal land, sea and air borders of the two countries must become a reality. Romania successfully manages, since accession, the second largest land border of the EU, and our country's contribution to border security is an important thing for the entire European Union. The European Union area without border controls, known as Schengen, is one of the most concrete achievements of European integration. The right to free movement for European citizens is one of the pillars of the European project and this must remain unchanged.