Aiming to assure a coherent and unitary preparation of the Romanian accession to the Schengen area, through HG No 1317/2007, the Schengen Department has been established as a national authority in the field, which coordinates and supervises the fulfilment of all the necessary requirements for the complete application of the Schengen Accord provisions as of 14.06.1985, regarding the gradual elimination of the control of the internal border and of the Convention regarding its application, as well as of other provisions, specific to the Schengen acquis, as it is defined by the relevant documents of the Council. The Schengen, European Affairs and International Relations Department has been reorganized through GD No 656/2011. The Department has been dissolved through GD No 156/2013 and the Schengen Directorate has been created, coordinated by the Secretary of State for relations with the Parliament and the Government. By GD no. 172/2016, the Schengen Directorate has been reorganized, the coordination and supervision of the activities carried out by the institutions and authorities with responsibilities in the field, in view of Romania’s accession to the Schengen area and the participation to the Schengen evaluation mechanism is ensured by the Directorate-General European Affairs, Schengen and International Relations (DGEASIR), created by the MHA Order no. 163/2016.

DGEASIR represents the specialty structure, part of the Ministry of Home Affairs, referred to as MHA, without legal status, with general territorial competencies regarding the coordination of activities undertaken by departments of the central unit, by institutions and structures subordinated to MHA, in the Schengen area.

DGEASIR is the national contact point in all relevant aspects related to the implementation of the Schengen evaluation mechanism at national level, in relation with national authorities with responsibilities in the implementation of the Schengen acquis and in the process of elimination the control at the internal borders, and at European level, in relation with the EU institutions and organisms and other Member States.

In order to fulfil its attributions and to complete the objectives established in the field of European affairs, including Schengen and international relations, DGEASIR cooperates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the Romanian embassies and consular offices, with other ministries and institutions of the central and local public administration; specialty commissions of the Romanian Parliament and Presidential Administration.

In order to fulfil its attributions, DGEASIR has the general territorial competency. DGEASIR coordinates guides and controls accordingly the activity of the specialized structures, and of the central and territorial institutions and authorities, subordinated to or

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