On Sunday, Romania and Bulgaria took a significant step towards integration with the European Union by partially joining Europe’s ID-check-free travel zone. Travelers arriving by air or sea from both countries now have free access to the Schengen area. However, land border checks will remain in place due to opposition primarily from Austria, citing concerns over illegal migration.
The Schengen Area, established in 1985, previously comprised 23 of the 27 EU member countries, along with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. With the addition of Romania and Bulgaria, this marks a historic moment for the world’s largest free travel zone.
While Austria vetoed Romania and Bulgaria’s full admission into the Schengen zone in 2022, Croatia was granted full accession. Both Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU in 2007, with Croatia following in 2013.
Officials and lawmakers have hailed this development as an important first step towards full accession for Romania and Bulgaria. The European Commission has affirmed that both countries meet the technical criteria for full accession, pending unanimous support from their EU partners.
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu described this achievement as well-deserved, emphasizing the benefits for citizens in terms of easier travel and economic growth. Plans are in place for Romania to achieve full accession to the Schengen Area by the end of the year.
Bulgaria’s Interior Minister, Kalin Stoyanov, announced that Bulgaria’s full accession to Schengen is expected by the end of 2024. The country has been implementing measures to enhance security and combat illegal migration and cross-border crime.
The lifting of border controls is anticipated to streamline operations at Bulgaria’s international airports, particularly in Sofia, the capital, which serves as a major hub for Schengen flights. While this move is set to benefit the tourism sector, concerns have been raised about potential long queues at EU land borders and the impact on trade within the single market.
Truck drivers, in particular, face challenges with lengthy border delays, costing the sector millions of euros annually. Efforts are being made to address these issues and ensure a smooth transition for all stakeholders involved.
