UNTRR PRESS RELEASE

Romania's accession to Schengen is a necessity for the road transport industry of goods and people, reducing the long waiting times at the borders and facilitating the free movement of Romanian passengers in the European area

The National Union of Road Hauliers from Romania - UNTRR asks the Romanian authorities and the European institutions to accelerate the Romania's accession to the Schengen area. Entry into Schengen is a necessity for the road transport industry of goods and people, reducing the long waiting times at the borders and facilitating the travels of Romanian passengers in the European space without borders.

In the context of this week's discussions in the European Parliament about Romania's accession to the Schengen area, UNTRR calls on the European institutions to accelerate the entry of Romania - Member State of the EU since 2007, into the European Schengen area of ​​free movement.

At the same time, UNTRR calls on to the Romanian authorities to prioritize Romania's entry into Schengen, considering that this is a necessity both for road hauliers and Romanian drivers, as well as for their passengers and customers.

The direct result of the elimination of border controls with EU Member States neighboring Romania is an increase in the fluidity of cross-border traffic, with numerous benefits for both Romanian road hauliers and EU:

- Eliminating long waiting times at internal EU borders by road and thus reducing costs and delays in supply chains

- Eliminating abuses and unjustified waiting times at passport control for coaches, offering Romanian and foreign tourists a civilized treatment

- Avoiding to exceed the driving times of professional drivers. May we recall that driving and rest times are strictly regulated in the European Union, and exceeding these driving times by Romanian drivers, due to waiting times in the queue at the border crossing, is sanctioned by the European control authorities

- The possibility to address professional drivers shortage by employing drivers from non- EU countries and using these drivers in international road transport operations within the EU, similar to the practice of other companies in Schengen countries. At this moment, third countries drivers employed by Romanian companies cannot work in the EU for more than 90 days in a 180 day period.

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The National Union of Road Hauliers from Romania (UNTRR) is a professional and employer’s organization, non-governmental, independent, apolitical, founded in 1990 on democratic principles, which promotes and defends the interests of road hauliers on national and international level, with more than 16,000 registered companies singe its establishment – companies operating national and international transports of goods and passengers.