All citizens from outside the European Union may currently enter Romania without a visa if they already hold a Schengen visa, after an ordinance adopted by the Romanian Government in December last year recently came into force, according to Romanian minister for SMEs, Maria Grapini.

“All citizens from non-European countries who got a Schengen visa, don’t need a visa for Romania. Bulgaria did this before us,” said Grapini, reports local news agency Mediafax.

The Romanian minister added that the EU is against this decision of the Government.

“We risk a fine, but my problem is why the EU is opposing. I mean, everything it says, isit  really correct? If you consider Schengen to be an elite club bigger than the rest of the countries, than why you say to the person holding a Schengen visa, which was extremely well checked, that he needs a visa for a country outside the Schengen area? Yes, if he goes from us to a country in the Schengen area, then he would need a visa,” added Grapini.

Romanian prime-minister Victor Ponta announced in December that all citizens of the Republic of Moldova with Schengen visa will be able to enter Romania starting February, without needing an additional visa.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com