Saturday, 15 March 2025
Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area with land borders marks a historic milestone, bringing significant economic and environmental benefits. The elimination of border controls for freight transport has led to major cost savings, improved logistics efficiency, and a substantial reduction in CO₂ emissions.
According to a study by the National Union of Road Transporters in Romania (UNTRR), trucks previously experienced 23.5 million hours of delays at border crossings annually. Data from Carbon Tool, a platform specializing in carbon footprint reduction, highlights the impact these delays had before Romania’s Schengen accession:
• 35 million liters of diesel were wasted each year, equivalent to fueling 700,000 cars for a month.
• 95,000 tons of CO₂ emissions were generated, an amount that would require 1.5 million trees to absorb.
• EUR 53 million in annual savings, equivalent to the fuel needed for 100,000 round trips between Bucharest and Timișoara or offsetting the weekly emissions of a city the size of Cluj.
Razvan Nica, CEO of Carbon Tool, emphasized the dual economic and environmental benefits of Schengen accession, stating: “This is not just a political achievement but a victory for sustainability and economic efficiency. Reducing unnecessary fuel consumption and emissions marks real progress toward a greener, more efficient transport industry.”
Key Benefits of Schengen Accession
With the removal of border controls, Romania now enjoys several tangible advantages:
• Lower operational costs – Hauliers save fuel costs equivalent to the annual budget of a small town.
• Improved logistics efficiency – Faster delivery times ease supply chain pressures and strengthen Romania’s position in international trade.
• Sustainability gains – Reduced CO₂ emissions and optimized fuel use contribute to a greener logistics system.
As a result of Schengen accession, Romania is set to become a more competitive and environmentally responsible player in European transport and trade.
