Romania and Bulgaria have been granted full membership in the Schengen free movement area following a decisive vote by European Union interior ministers in Brussels on Thursday. This historic decision will take effect on January 1, 2025, enabling the two countries to eliminate border controls with the rest of Europe.
Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter, representing the EU’s rotating presidency, hailed the moment as a “historic” milestone for the bloc, which further strengthens European integration. This decision follows the earlier removal of passport checks at air and sea borders for Romania and Bulgaria, implemented in March this year.
Despite fulfilling the technical requirements for Schengen membership since 2010, Romania and Bulgaria faced years of opposition due to migration concerns from certain EU states. Austria, which had been the final hold-out, recently lifted its veto after securing a commitment from Bulgaria to increase border security measures along its frontier with Turkey.
The Schengen zone, established in 1985, now encompasses all EU countries except Cyprus and Ireland, alongside non-EU members such as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. With Romania and Bulgaria’s accession, the world’s largest free movement area will take another step toward inclusivity and cohesion.
