Romania and Bulgaria Join the Schengen Zone After 13 Years

Wednesday 01 January 2025 - 15:35

Romania and Bulgaria have officially joined the Schengen Area, ending a 13-year wait and expanding the borderless zone to 29 members. This expansion follows a significant change in stance by Austria and other members, who had previously objected to the two Eastern European countries joining due to concerns about migration control.

The move, which took effect at midnight on Wednesday (22:00 GMT), was marked by ceremonies at several border posts. With this development, identification checks at the land borders between Romania, Bulgaria, and their neighboring EU member countries were officially lifted, granting travelers free access to the entire 27-member bloc.

While Romania and Bulgaria had been partially integrated into the Schengen Area since March, the relaxation of travel restrictions had only applied to air and sea arrivals. The removal of land border checks has now fully opened travel across the region.

A brief ceremony was held at the Ruse-Giurgiu border crossing between Romania and Bulgaria, where the interior ministers of both countries celebrated the achievement. Another symbolic event took place at the border crossing between Hungary and Romania, attended by Hungary’s national chief of police and Romania’s border police chief.

Both Romania and Bulgaria became EU members in 2007 but had not been integrated into the Schengen Area until recently. Their delayed entry was primarily due to opposition, especially from Austria, which raised concerns over the countries' ability to manage migration effectively. The situation began to shift after Hungary, during its six-month EU presidency, pushed for their inclusion into the zone.

Schengen, established in 1985 as a project between five EU countries, has expanded over the years to become the world’s largest free travel area. However, some member countries, including Austria, the Netherlands, and Germany, reintroduced land border checks this year due to rising concerns over migration and security. This has raised alarms about the potential weakening of the Schengen system’s core principles.

Before Romania and Bulgaria’s full integration, Schengen included 23 of the 27 EU member states, along with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. With its expansion, about 3.5 million people cross an internal border daily, and over 420 million people live within the Schengen Area, benefiting from the freedom of movement.

This milestone represents a significant step towards greater integration within Europe, as Romania and Bulgaria’s membership enhances not only travel and trade but also regional cooperation, especially in areas with historical ties like Transylvania, where many ethnic Hungarians reside.