![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://moldovalive.md/president-maia-sandu-sends-congratulations-to-romania-and-bulgaria-on-schengen-integration/&media=https://moldovalive.md/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/maia-sandu-romania-bulgaria-schengen-area-eu.jpg&description=President Maia Sandu of the Republic of Moldova conveyed a congratulatory message to "friends" in Romania and Bulgaria after the Council of the European Union adopted the decision at the end of last year to apply the Schengen acquis in the two countries, lifting air and maritime borders.){kind=link}
President Maia Sandu of the Republic of Moldova conveyed a congratulatory message to “friends” in Romania and Bulgaria after the Council of the European Union adopted the decision at the end of last year to apply the Schengen acquis in the two countries, lifting air and maritime borders.
“Congratulations to our friends in Romania and Bulgaria for this significant step towards integration into the Schengen area. Your commitment and perseverance are exemplary and will bring significant benefits to the European Union, further strengthening our bonds within Europe,” wrote the head of state on the X social network.
It is worth noting that Austria, which had been opposed all this time, stated that opening the European maritime and airspace for Romania and Bulgaria does not imply complete integration into the Schengen area and did not provide a timeline for implementation. However, starting in March 2024, even citizens of the Republic of Moldova holding Romanian citizenship will be able to benefit from some of the Schengen Treaty facilities, allowing them to pass through the air and maritime borders of Romania without control.