Bulgaria, Romania become full Schengen Zone members after 13-year wait

On January 1, Romania and Bulgaria officially joined the Schengen Area, marking a historic expansion of the borderless zone to 29 countries. 

The two Eastern European nations had waited 13 years for full membership, which was finalized at midnight with ceremonies held at border posts, Caliber.Az reports referring to foreign media sources.

Romania and Bulgaria, EU members since 2007, had already enjoyed partial inclusion in the Schengen Area since March, eliminating border checks at airports and ports. However, land border controls remained in place, as Austria had previously threatened to veto their full membership due to migration concerns.

In December, Austria softened its stance following a deal on a "border protection package" between Romania, Bulgaria, and Austria. This cleared the way for their full membership, marking the end of a long political standoff.

The Schengen Zone, originally formed in 1985, now includes 25 of the EU's 27 members along with non-EU countries such as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, covering over 400 million people.

Romania and Bulgaria have met the Schengen technical criteria since 2011. However, objections from other member states repeatedly blocked their accession, leading to frustration and fueling anti-EU sentiment in the region. Romania's recent presidential elections highlighted the rising resentment, with far-right candidate Calin Georgescu making a surprise gain in the first round of voting, although the results were later annulled.

The successful accession will alleviate the sense of being "second-class citizens" in both countries, according to analysts. The expansion is seen as a significant achievement for both nations, and leaders on all sides hailed the move as historic.

Austria, which had expressed concerns about migration flows, finally dropped its objections after Romania, Bulgaria, and Austria signed a border protection agreement. This agreement includes joint border guard deployments along the Bulgarian-Turkish border and temporary controls at land crossings for six months.

Economic experts predict that Romania and Bulgaria’s inclusion in Schengen will boost their GDP by at least one percentage point, marking a major milestone in their continued integration into Europe.

By Tamilla Hasanova