Bulgaria and Romania Fully Join the Schengen Area

Bulgaria and Romania officially joined the Schengen Area on Sunday after a 13-year wait, allowing citizens of both countries freedom of movement and marking a significant milestone for the two Eastern European nations, according to AFP.

The two countries became partially equal to Schengen Area countries in March 2024, with air and sea travel now open and land borders remaining closed. They received approval from their European partners in mid-December to enjoy the same privileges at land border checkpoints.

Ceremonies are planned at the border inspection points ahead of the final joining process at midnight (22:00 UTC).

This marks the end of a long wait for the two former communist countries, which are among the poorest in the European Union.

The countries have met the technical criteria since 2011, but “every time, member states raised objections,” said analyst Valentin Numescu.

Both sides welcomed the “historic decision,” emphasizing that it was a “key goal” since joining the EU in 2007.

After the double accession of Romania and Bulgaria, the number of Schengen Area members will reach 29, including 25 of the 27 EU member states, as well as neighboring countries that have special partnerships, such as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

Theoretically, more than 400 million people will be able to travel without border checks.

Romania (19 million people) and Bulgaria (6.5 million people) achieved full membership after Austria lifted its veto on the move. Austria had feared an increase in refugee flows to its territory if Schengen expanded, but it acknowledged that measures implemented in recent months have led to a “significant decrease in border crossings.”

An agreement presented to Budapest in November includes establishing temporary inspection centers “for an initial period of six months to reduce the potential shift in migration routes.”

The Bulgarian-Turkish border, now the external border of the Schengen Area, will also see strengthened monitoring.

The two countries are expected to benefit economically, with estimates suggesting their GDP could increase by at least 1% due to the expansion.