Romania meets all criteria to join Schengen in 2023, says Charles Michel

President of the European Council Charles Michel has said that Romania meets all the criteria for joining the Schengen zone.

He made the statement at a joint press conference in Bucharest with the Romanian leader Klaus Johannis, according to Gazeta.ru.

According to Michel, Romania can become a Schengen member as early as 2023, and the European Council intends to work hard to realize this goal.

"The EU will be more secure with Romania and Bulgaria in the Schengen area. It is also absolutely clear that Romania meets the criteria. This means that it is time to take a political decision as soon as possible," said the head of the European Council.