Romania’s Schengen accession set to strengthen ties with Hungary

euronews (in English)

The European Commission declared Romania ready to join the Schengen area in 2011, but faced opposition from several countries. Austria, the last holdout, lifted its veto during a meeting in Budapest last month.

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00:00Romania's long-awaited accession to the border-free Schengen area is expected to boost the integration

00:08process between Romania and Hungary.

00:11The removal of the border checks on the 1st of January will make it easier for commuters

00:15to travel between the two countries.

00:17It was important for the people of Bihar that many people moved here.

00:24Hungarian real estate is often significantly cheaper than in Romania.

00:43A vendor in the Romanian city of Oradea said Hungarian real estate will become even more

00:48appealing with travel expected to become easier and faster.

00:53Many have been waiting a long time for Romania to join the Schengen area.

01:21Well, I think it's been long overdue, honestly.

01:27I think it's finally time that we enter Schengen.

01:30I think it opens a lot of possibilities, especially economical ones.

01:35And I don't know, I'm really looking forward to it, especially because for me personally

01:40it will be nice to not wait at the border for so long.

01:46Unlike Romanians, Hungarians do not cross the border for real estate.

01:50Instead, they go to Romania to go shopping or for cheaper petrol.

02:13The European Commission had already declared Romania ready to join the Schengen area in

02:182011, but Austria had been an ardent opponent.

02:22However, last month they finally lifted their long-held veto during a meeting in Budapest.

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