Bulgaria and Romania become full Schengen area countries

© Raimond Spekking / CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Border checkpoint Nadlac - Nagylak - Romanian side.

- Advertisement -

As from January 1, 2025, travel will become possible without land border controls to and between Bulgaria and Romania. This follows a unanimous decision on December 12 by the interior ministers of the EU member states to lift remaining Schengen area border controls with the two member states. The decision by the European Council will benefit the economies of Bulgaria and Romania and allow faster journeys home for the millions of Bulgarians and Romanians living and traveling in other EU countries, as well as remove most if not all customs controls (but not all technical checks) for trucks.

“This important step completes the full entry of both countries into the Schengen area,” the European Commission said in a press release. “This not only strengthens the Schengen area, but it will further strengthen the internal market, increase travel, trade and tourism. A robust Schengen area reinforces the EU’s unity and makes the EU stronger at a global scale,” it added.

“Today is a day of joy for all Bulgarians, Romanians and our entire Union,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on December 12. “Both Member States will fully join the world’s largest free movement area. This is important for all of us, European citizens and businesses. Together we will reap the benefits of a stronger and more connected Union,” she added.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola also welcomed the full accession of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area. Opening the December plenary session in Strasbourg, Metsola said she was pleased that Romania and Bulgaria will finally join the Schengen free movement zone on January 1, 2025. She said that Parliament, the staunchest and most vocal ally in the two countries’ efforts to join Schengen, has always understood that a stronger Schengen means a safer and more united Europe, adding that “with this historic decisions, we are showing what a united Europe can achieve, bringing people closer together, breaking down barriers, and making the promise of Europe a little bit more tangible for everyone.”

Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis warmly welcomed the positive decision taken on December 12 in Brussels regarding the full accession of Romania to the Schengen area after years of full membership being blocked by several Central European countries. “Romanian citizens are looking forward to be a part of this border-free space of free movement. Our accession will strengthen EU security and unity,” he wrote on X.

Since last December, when the Council decided to welcome Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen area, both Member States have taken all necessary measures to ensure a smooth application of the Schengen rules as from March 31, 2024. On that date, the controls at the internal air and sea borders were lifted and the Schengen rules started to apply including on issuing Schengen visas, making air and maritime travel to/from the EU simpler.

The Cooperation Frameworks that the Commission launched in March this year with Bulgaria and Romania build on the successful implementation of the pilot projects for fast asylum and return procedures, the Commission said, adding that both countries will further support joint European efforts to address EU security at the EU’s external borders and tackle migratory challenges. The Commission said it will also continue to offer financial support and Frontex assistance to both Member States. For Frontex, the hot spots have long been the EU borders with Turkey and Serbia.

The Commission pointed out in the 2024 State of Schengen report that the zone stands strong and remains the most visited destination in the world. Guaranteeing smooth and secure travel to a region with a population of almost 450 million people, the Schengen area is essential for the EU, its people and its businesses. With Bulgaria and Romania now fully part of Schengen, we are making another crucial step to build a strong and connected Union, the report noted.

Still outside looking in

The latest decision still leaves EU members Cyprus and Ireland outside the current Schengen area grouping, which is slightly broader than the EU itself as it already includes the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Lichtenstein.  The territory of four European microstates – Andorra, MonacoSan Marino and Vatican City – is de facto included in the Schengen area due to their small size and difficulty of maintaining active border controls.

 

 

 

- Advertisement -

Subscribe to our newsletter

Latest

A Code of Conduct for the HR Outsourcing sector

The quote - often attributed to Deng Xiaoping -...

T is for tariffs

If the quick freeze and attempted shut down of...

EU officially implements landmark AI law

The EU officially implemented its new landmark AI law...

Trump administration unleashes first sanctions on Iranian shadow fleet

On February 6, the Department of the Treasury unleashed...

Don't miss

A Code of Conduct for the HR Outsourcing sector

The quote - often attributed to Deng Xiaoping -...

T is for tariffs

If the quick freeze and attempted shut down of...

EU officially implements landmark AI law

The EU officially implemented its new landmark AI law...

Trump administration unleashes first sanctions on Iranian shadow fleet

On February 6, the Department of the Treasury unleashed...

Tariff Trouble in Trump Town

President Trump has had many a cartoon about him...

A Code of Conduct for the HR Outsourcing sector

The quote - often attributed to Deng Xiaoping - runs that when you open a window you let in fresh air, but you also...

T is for tariffs

If the quick freeze and attempted shut down of American foreign assistance through USAID was not enough, on February 10 U.S. President Donald Trump...

EU officially implements landmark AI law

The EU officially implemented its new landmark AI law on February 2, aiming to ensure safety and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence. The European...

Trump administration unleashes first sanctions on Iranian shadow fleet

On February 6, the Department of the Treasury unleashed the first wave of the new Trump administration’s economic sanctions using the tried-and-true U.S. Government/Treasury...

Tariff Trouble in Trump Town

President Trump has had many a cartoon about him as a child throwing toys and anything to hand out of the playpen. Now, of...

Global reaction to Trump tariffs only reinforces his use of this tired and risky strategy

True to form, U.S. President Donald Trump disrupted global markets with a three-day surge of tariff announcements, border security negotiations and ultimately a 30-day...

The New Face of an Old Enemy: The renewed dangers of ISIS and al-Qaeda

A dangerous cocktail of indifference and complacency enabled al-Qaeda to evolve from a shadowy fringe network in the early 1990s into one of the...

EU-Central Asia Civil Society Forum enhances regional cooperation, sustainable development

Almaty, the largest city and former capital of Kazakhstan, hosted the fifth EU-Central Asia Civil Society Forum on January 28-30, focusing on digital transformation,...