Romania Joins Schengen: Symbolic Ceremony to Mark Historic Moment

Romania's full accession to the Schengen Area will be celebrated on New Year’s Eve with a symbolic Romanian-Hungarian ceremony at the Rosiori-Pocsaj Border Crossing Point in Bihor County. Organized by the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) Bihor, the event will feature the breaking of an iron chain to symbolize the end of Romania's separation from the rest of Europe, CE Report quotes Agerpres

The ceremony will include notable figures such as Hungarian Deputy Foreign Minister Levente Magyar, Romanian Minister Cseke Attila, MP Szabo Odon, local mayors, clergy, and residents. The event underscores Romania's historic return to full membership in the European Union.

MP Szabo Odon highlighted the significance: “This is not just a milestone for the border region but for all Romanian citizens who have long awaited this day. It reaffirms Romania's rightful place in Western European culture and its European path.”

The event will begin with the arrival of officials between 00:15 and 00:30 Romanian time (23:15-23:30 Hungarian time) and the singing of both national anthems. At precisely 01:00 Romanian time (midnight Hungarian time), the border crossing point will officially open, marked by the ceremonial cutting of the chain.

Organizers drew inspiration from the fall of the Iron Curtain, with plans to preserve a piece of the broken chain as a memento for future visitors. “It’s a symbolic gesture that shows unity and shared history as the Romanian-Hungarian border opens under the Hungarian EU Presidency,” said MP Szabo Odon.

The Rosiori-Pocsaj crossing, one of three occasional points established in Bihor County in 2017, will now serve as a gateway symbolizing Romania’s integration into the Schengen Area and the broader European community.