European interior ministers met in Brussels on Thursday, where they voted to allow Bulgaria and Romania fully into the Schengen area, dropping borders between the two countries and the rest of Europe.
“It is a historic moment to finally welcome Bulgaria and Romania,” said Interior Minister Sandor Pinter of Hungary, which the European Union’s rotating presidency.
Why are Romania and Bulgaria just now joining Schengen?
Romania and Bulgaria have been EU members since 2007, and have filled the requirements to enter Schengen since 2010.
It comprises all EU countries except Cyprus and Ireland, as well as non-EU members Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
During their meeting in Brussels on Thursday, European interior ministers decided to remove the borders separating Bulgaria and Romania from the rest of Europe and allow them to fully join the Schengen area.
The ruling will take effect on January 1st, 2025.
Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter, who is in charge of the rotating presidency of the European Union, declared, “It is a historic moment to finally welcome Bulgaria and Romania.”.
When passport checks for the countries’ air and sea borders with other EU countries were discontinued in March, the process had already started.
Why haven’t Bulgaria and Romania joined Schengen yet?
Bulgaria and Romania have been EU members since 2007 and have met Schengen entry requirements since 2010. However, due to migration concerns, a number of states have opposed their accession over time.
Austria was especially delaying approval since 2022. Vienna, however, had already indicated that it would not veto the decision prior to Thursday’s vote. This is partially because of an agreement that Bulgaria made to increase the number of border guards stationed along its Turkish border.
The Schengen free movement area is the biggest of its kind in the world, having been established in 1985. It consists of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and all EU nations with the exception of Cyprus and Ireland.
es/rm (AFP, DPA).
