Romania and Bulgaria to join Schengen area on January 1
Photo: Romania and Bulgaria will become full Schengen members from January 1, 2025 (Getty Images)
Romania and Bulgaria will join the Schengen zone, the world's largest free travel area, on January 1, 2025, the official website of the European Council reports.
"It is a historic moment to finally welcome Bulgaria and Romania as full Schengen members," said Sandor Pinter, Hungarian Minister for Home Affairs.
According to Sandor Pinter, lifting person checks at internal land borders with and between these member states has been a key priority of 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," the Hungarian Minister for Home Affairs noted.
Path of Romania and Bulgaria to Schengen
Since joining the EU, Bulgaria and Romania have applied parts of the Schengen legal framework (the Schengen acquis), including those related to external border control, police cooperation, and the use of the Schengen Information System (SIS).
On December 30, 2023, the European Council decided to implement the remaining parts of the Schengen framework as of March 31, 2024, and to lift person checks at internal air and sea borders.
Schengen area
Schengen is the world's largest free travel zone. Border checks between France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg were first abolished in 1985.
Currently, the Schengen area includes 29 countries (25 of the 27 EU member states, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) and encompasses approximately 420 million people. Internal border controls with Cyprus have not yet been lifted, and Ireland is not part of the Schengen area.
In September, several Schengen countries reintroduced border controls. This measure responded to the increase in migrants and Russian espionage activities.
