Romania, eager to join the Schengen area, has become a gateway to Europe for immigrants and war refugees crossing over from Turkey, heading towards Western Europe.

This is a new phenomenon for the Romanian authorities, unrolling at a small scale compared to the Mediterranean area, according to Euronews.

Illegal migrants and their smugglers are being hunted down with help from the Romanian border surveillance centre in the port city Constanta.

The coast guard could deal with more immigrants in a few years, if Romania joins the Schengen area.

editor@romania-insider.com