BRUSSELS — On Thursday, European Union ministers reached an agreement to permit Bulgaria and Romania to completely join Europe’s ID-check-free travel zone, recognized as the Schengen area. Effective from next year, this arrangement will see the removal of land border controls, as announced by the Hungarian presidency of the EU.
Bulgaria and Romania had made their initial entrance into the Schengen area back in March following extensive negotiations, enabling travelers to cross national borders by air or sea without restrictions. Nonetheless, border checks on land persisted due to reluctance, primarily from Austria, which expressed worries that both nations were inadequately managing the prevention of unauthorized migration.
The Hungarian presidency released a statement on the social media platform X, declaring that “Interior ministers have just adopted a decision to lift internal land border controls with and between Bulgaria and Romania.” This decision has been framed as a significant victory for Bulgaria, Romania, and the broader European community. The new regulations will come into effect on January 1.
Romania’s Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, remarked that this decision would greatly benefit his country’s economy, facilitating quicker travel for the millions of Romanians residing and traveling throughout the Schengen area.
Free movement is a cornerstone of European integration, with over 420 million people residing in the Schengen area, where the ability to cross borders freely significantly boosts business and tourism activities.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis regarded this shift as a “natural and necessary step,” which will considerably lessen border wait times and lower logistical costs for businesses, thereby making Romania more appealing to foreign investors. He pointed out that membership in the Schengen area has long been a key goal for Romania and acknowledged the various challenges faced over the years, despite Romania being prepared to meet Schengen standards well in advance.
Iohannis stated that Romania is committed to responsibly safeguarding and enhancing the EU’s external borders to effectively manage illegal migration.
The Schengen Area, originating in 1985, initially consisted of five EU nations and has expanded to include 23 of the 27 EU member states, in addition to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. Currently, around 3.5 million people traverse an internal border each day.
Economists from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences have projected that the lifting of land border checks will yield a total positive financial impact of approximately 800 million euros ($840 million) annually for Bulgaria.
Bulgarian Interior Minister Atanas Ilkov declared this a “historic day” for Bulgaria and its citizens, stating it signifies a well-deserved outcome resulting from extensive efforts undertaken in the preceding years. He mentioned the active measures taken for physical security at the Bulgarian-Turkish border as part of these efforts.
Ilkov also noted that authorities recently dismantled an organized criminal group involved in illegal migration and mentioned that random checks at the Bulgarian-Turkish border would carry on.
At Bulgaria’s Kulata border checkpoint with Greece—historically known for long traffic delays—many drivers expressed approval of the new decision. Truck driver Nazum Kasumov, 61, commented that the complete Schengen accession “should have happened a long time ago,” contrasting the anticipated ease of travel with the previous situation where drivers could be stuck in traffic for two days.
Another truck driver, Nikolay Iliev, emphasized that the absence of border checks would significantly reduce stressful delays, expressing happiness over the acceptance into Schengen.
The Schengen area represents a key achievement of European unity, evolving from a collaboration among five EU countries—France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg—to become the largest free travel region globally.
However, it’s worth noting that several Schengen member states, including the Netherlands, Austria, and Germany, reinstated some land border checks earlier this year, citing concerns ranging from security to migration. Authorities have cautioned that the reinstatement of borders could potentially weaken the objectives of the Schengen scheme.
