ATHENS: The European Union has approved the full membership of Bulgaria and Romania in the Schengen Area, with the integration set to take effect on January 1, 2025.
The Hungarian Presidency of the EU Council celebrated the decision as a “historic moment” and a “great victory” for Bulgaria, Romania, and Europe at large. The move, which eliminates border checks between these two countries and the rest of the Schengen Zone, is seen as a significant achievement, benefiting not just the citizens of Bulgaria and Romania, but the EU as a whole.
Schengen, the world’s largest free travel zone, currently comprises 29 countries, including 25 EU member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, with a total population of 420 million.
Since joining the EU, Bulgaria and Romania have implemented various aspects of the Schengen legal framework, including rules for external border controls, police cooperation, and the Schengen Information System.
On December 30, 2023, the European Council decided to extend the application of the Schengen acquis, which will remove internal checks at air and sea borders starting March 31, 2024.
The Schengen Area first abolished border controls in 1985 between France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. While Cyprus has yet to join the free movement zone, Ireland has remained outside the Schengen Area.
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