Romania and Bulgaria have officially become full members of the Schengen Area, marking the end of a 13-year wait and enlarging the borderless zone to 29 countries.
This milestone allows free movement between Romania, Bulgaria, and the other 27 EU states, ending the need for border checks at their land borders.
The two countries had partial access to the Schengen Area since March, but only for air and sea travel. Now, land border checks are also lifted.
Ceremonies took place at key border points, including Ruse-Giurgiu, where the interior ministers of Romania and Bulgaria met, and between Hungary and Romania, with police chiefs from both countries in attendance.
Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007, but their Schengen accession was delayed over concerns about migration control, particularly from Austria.
After months of diplomatic talks, the objections were lifted, allowing their full integration. Hungary played a key role in supporting the expansion during its EU presidency.
The Schengen Area, which started in 1985 with five founding countries, has grown to include 23 EU members and several non-EU countries, such as Switzerland and Norway. Around 420 million people live in the area, with 3.5 million people crossing internal borders daily.
However, the integrity of the Schengen Zone has been tested in recent years. Some countries, including Austria and the Netherlands, reintroduced border checks in 2023 due to concerns about migration and security, raising fears of undermining the principles of free movement.
