The European Council voted unanimously on Thursday (Dec. 12) to officially lift internal land border controls with Romania and Bulgaria from the start of next year, making them fully part of the passport-free Schengen area.
The two Balkan countries, both members of the European Union since 2007, were partially integrated into the free movement zone in March 2024, when passport checks were ended for the countries’ air and sea borders with other EU nations. But Austria held up their full entry over undocumented immigration concerns, which meant that controls still applied at their land routes.
Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said on Monday (Dec. 9) that his country will not interfere with the expansion of the Schengen area, which allowed for both Bulgaria and Romania to become fully fledged members from January 1, 2025.
Romania and Bulgaria “strongly” welcomed their full entry.
“This is a historic decision, marking the end of the process of accession of the two countries to the EU free movement area, a key objective of both Bulgaria and Romania since their accession to the European Union,” the two countries said in a statement.
Hungarian Minister of the Interior Sandor Pinter, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency, heralded the accession of the two countries as a “historic moment” at a gathering of EU ministers.
However, internal border controls will continue to be conducted at land borders between Romania and Bulgaria – and also Hungary and Romania – for “at least” six months to “prevent any serious threat to public policy and internal security”.
“The Commission welcomes today’s unanimous decision by the Council to lift internal land border controls with Romania and Bulgaria as of 1 January 2025. This important step completes the full entry of both countries into the Schengen area.This not only strengthens the Schengen area but it will further strengthen the internal market, increase travel, trade and tourism” the European Commission said.
The EU’s executive arm first confirmed that Bulgaria and Romania were ready to become part of Europe’s borderless zone in 2011.
Schengen is the largest free travel area in the world. Border checks between France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg were first dropped in 1985. The Schengen area now covers 29 countries (25 of the 27 member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) and 420 million people. Controls at the internal borders with Cyprus have not yet been lifted, and Ireland is not part of the Schengen area.
