European Union member states have decided to eliminate checks on individuals at the internal land borders with and between Bulgaria and Romania starting on January 1, 2025. Since joining the EU, both countries have been applying parts of the Schengen legal framework (the Schengen acquis), which includes regulations on external border controls, police cooperation, and using the Schengen Information System.
On December 30, 2023, the European Council adopted a decision to implement the remaining parts of the Schengen acquis from March 31, 2024, abolishing checks on individuals at internal air and sea borders. On November 20, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced that Romania and Bulgaria are expected to fully join the Schengen area, allowing for open borders across Europe, by January 2025.
This significant decision was made possible after Austria, previously the most staunch opponent, lifted its veto during a meeting in Budapest last month. Consequently, both countries will become fully-fledged members of Schengen as of January 1, 2025, marking the culmination of a process that began in 2011 when the European Commission first recognised their readiness for accession.
“It is a historic moment to finally welcome Bulgaria and Romania as full Schengen members. Lifting checks on persons at the internal land borders with and between those member states has been a top priority for the Hungarian presidency, and today we have made it a reality. This step will benefit not only Bulgarian and Romanian citizens but also the EU as a whole,” Sándor Pintér, Hungarian Minister for Home Affairs, said.
The Schengen area is the largest free travel zone in the world. Border checks between France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg were first removed in 1985. The Schengen area currently includes 29 countries (25 of the 27 EU member states, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland), covering a population of around 420 million people. Currently, border controls with Cyprus have yet to be lifted, and Ireland is not part of the Schengen area.
