Romania and Bulgaria are now officially full members of the Schengen Zone, starting January 1, 2025. This is a huge moment for both countries and for the whole European Union (EU). The Schengen Zone is a group of European countries where there are no border checks, so people can travel freely from one country to another.
The decision for Romania and Bulgaria to join the Schengen Zone was made on December 12, 2024, during a meeting of EU ministers. Before this, both countries were only partially in the Schengen Zone since March 31, 2024. This meant they could travel freely by air and sea, but there were still border checks when crossing land borders. Now, with full membership, Romania and Bulgaria will no longer have border checks when crossing into other Schengen countries, including their neighbors like Hungary and Austria.
This is the end of a long wait for Romania and Bulgaria. They had been trying to join the Schengen Zone for over 10 years, but problems with migration and security caused delays. Austria had blocked their full membership because of concerns about migration. However, after years of negotiations and improvements in border security, Austria finally agreed to let Romania and Bulgaria join the Schengen Zone completely.
Romania and Bulgaria’s Path to Schengen Membership
Getting into the Schengen Zone is not easy. Countries need to meet strict requirements to control their borders, ensure safety, and have good systems in place for visas. Romania and Bulgaria started working on joining the Schengen Zone right after becoming EU members in 2007. They made a lot of progress in improving border security, but there were still challenges along the way.
Romania and Bulgaria were allowed to join the Schengen Zone partially in 2011, which meant they could travel freely by air and sea. But there were still checks at land borders, especially because some countries, like Austria, were worried about migration. Austria was concerned about irregular migration from the Balkans and didn’t want to let Romania and Bulgaria join fully.
For many years, Romania and Bulgaria were frustrated by the delays. They had to meet extra conditions set by the EU to address the concerns of Austria and other countries. Even with these setbacks, both countries kept pushing for full Schengen membership. They worked hard to improve their border security, making their borders safer and cooperating with other Schengen countries to meet the necessary standards.
Finally, in December 2024, Austria lifted its veto on Romania and Bulgaria’s full membership. After many discussions, Austria agreed that both countries had improved enough to join fully. Austria’s Interior Minister, Gerhard Karner, made the announcement, saying, “After ‘Schengen Air,’ ‘Schengen Land’ is now open to Romania and Bulgaria.” This was a big moment for both countries and a sign that their years of efforts had paid off.
The Importance of Full Schengen Membership
Full membership in the Schengen Zone is a major achievement for Romania and Bulgaria. It means their citizens can now travel freely across 29 European countries without needing passports or border checks. This opens up new possibilities for businesses, tourists, and individuals. People from Romania and Bulgaria can now work, study, and live in other Schengen countries without needing extra paperwork or visa checks at the borders.
For businesses, removing border checks between Romania, Bulgaria, and other Schengen countries will make it easier to move goods and services across borders. This will reduce costs and help businesses grow. Tourists will also benefit because they can visit multiple countries without worrying about border checks, making travel simpler and more enjoyable.
Romania and Bulgaria’s full membership is also good for the security and stability of the EU. By joining the Schengen Zone, these countries are agreeing to work closely with other Schengen nations on security, law enforcement, and protecting the EU’s borders. This strengthens the EU’s ability to handle problems like terrorism, human trafficking, and irregular migration, as all Schengen countries must work together to tackle these issues.
Conditions for Full Membership
While Romania and Bulgaria are now full members of the Schengen Zone, there are still some conditions that will be in place for a while. One of these conditions is that there will still be land border controls between Romania and Hungary, as well as between Romania and Bulgaria. These checks will stay in place for at least six months, starting January 1, 2025. The reason for this is to make sure that there are no safety risks or problems with public order as Romania and Bulgaria adjust to their new status in the Schengen Zone.
These temporary border checks are part of the Budapest Agreement, which focuses on making sure borders between Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria are secure. Even though these land border controls are still in place for now, the goal is to ease them over time as Romania and Bulgaria continue to improve their security and work together with other Schengen countries.
Romania and Bulgaria: Facts and Highlights
Romania
- Capital: Bucharest
- Population: About 19 million people
- Official Language: Romanian
- Currency: Romanian Leu
- Famous for: The Carpathian Mountains, Transylvania, Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle), and its rich cultural history.
- Fun Fact: Romania is home to Europe’s second-largest underground glacier, the Scarisoara Cave. It also has beautiful wooden churches that are considered UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Bulgaria
- Capital: Sofia
- Population: Around 6.5 million people
- Official Language: Bulgarian
- Currency: Bulgarian Lev
- Famous for: The Black Sea coast, ancient Roman ruins, and delicious yogurt.
- Fun Fact: Bulgaria is one of Europe’s oldest countries, founded in 681 AD, and its name has never changed. It is also known for its rose oil, which is used in perfumes all around the world.
Romania and Bulgaria’s full membership in the Schengen Zone is a historic moment for both countries and the EU. After years of waiting and overcoming obstacles, these two nations are now fully part of the borderless travel area. This allows their citizens to travel freely and opens up many opportunities for business, tourism, and cooperation. While some border checks are still in place for now, this is an exciting new chapter for Romania and Bulgaria, and it will lead to even more opportunities in the future.
