European Union granted Romania and Bulgaria full membership; Lifting checks on persons at internal borders

Europe: On January 1, Romania and Bulgaria became full members of the Schengen area, lifting checks on persons at internal borders. After a 13-year wait, the European Union granted Romania and Bulgaria full membership of the Schengen zone.

The two new Eastern European countries joined the 'borderless' Schengen zone, bringing the total number of EU members to 29. Internal air and sea border controls between Bulgaria and Romania and the countries in the Schengen area have already been lifted since March 31, 2024.

The historic enlargement was made possible after Austria and other members dropped their opposition to the inclusion of the former communist countries Romania and Bulgaria in the European Union. Romania and Bulgaria have met the technical requirements for Schengen membership since 2011. But member states have resisted every time they have tried to join. Austria has complained for years that poorly protected external Schengen borders have resulted in a disproportionate number of undocumented migrants.

Romania, with a population of 19 million, and Bulgaria, with a population of 6.5 million, are celebrating the new announcement. Lorry drivers, who currently have to wait up to 20 hours, will now be allowed to cross in minutes. Visa-free entry to border countries is also expected to boost tourism.

The European Union has set up checkpoints at Bulgarian-Turkish land crossings. It has also decided to impose a temporary ban for six months. Other countries on the continent are most wary of Turks, who are not members of the EU or Schengen. Although Romania and Bulgaria have been partial members of the EU since 2007, Austria vetoed a bid to completely abolish border checks at ports and airports. Restrictions on land border crossings were still in place due to Austria's threat of a veto over migration concerns.

The border extension was made possible after Austria withdrew its veto threat in December after an agreement was reached on a 'border protection package' involving Romania and Bulgaria.

Schengen Area

Schengen is the world's largest area of ​​freedom, security and justice without internal borders. It guarantees free movement for over 450 million EU citizens, whether they are residents of the EU or visiting the EU as tourists, exchange students or non-EU citizens for business purposes (anyone legally present in the EU).

Schengen began on 14 June 1985 with the signing of the Schengen Agreement on a riverboat: Princess Marie-Astrid of the Moselle. Luxembourg, Germany and France. The countries that signed the agreement were Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

The European Union project took Schengen to its next level. By establishing the right to freedom of movement in 1992, it laid the foundation for a shared European space. The Union framework incorporated all Schengen rules in 1997 and achieved another milestone in 2007,

implementing the commitment to create an ‘area of ​​freedom, security and justice without internal borders’. The Schengen area is the only area in the world where mutual trust between neighbouring countries is so strong and the value of free movement so fundamental, its members have taken steps to abolish border checks and have committed to sharing benefits and responsibilities.

Created in 1985, the zone now includes 25 of the 27 EU members, plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, four non-EU countries involved in the operation. The total covers more than 400 million people. Ireland and Cyprus are still not part of the Schengen area. The Schengen rules allow for close cooperation in all areas covered.