EU approves Bulgarian, Romanian full accession to Schengen area Effective January 2025

The European Council has officially approved the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area, effective from January 1, 2025, nearly 18 years after their EU membership.

The decision will result in the abolition of border controls between Romania, Bulgaria, and the Schengen area, marking a significant milestone for both countries, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

As of March 2024, Bulgaria and Romania had already partially integrated into Schengen by eliminating passport checks on air and sea transport. However, the formal accession process, which includes the abolition of land border controls, will only be completed in 2025.

The final approval for the expansion of the Schengen area to include Romania and Bulgaria is expected at the EU summit in Brussels on December 19-20, 2024. Although this summit will mark the formal ratification, the approval from the EU’s justice and interior ministers has already paved the way for the decision.

Bulgaria and Romania became European Union members in 2007, but their Schengen membership has been delayed over issues, particularly in the realm of anti-corruption efforts. The process was further stalled after the EU migration crisis in 2015.

The Schengen area was established in 1985 by Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Portugal. While the Schengen area and the European Union both currently consist of 27 countries, their borders do not align. In addition to EU members, the Schengen Area also includes non-EU countries such as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

However, the Republic of Cyprus and Ireland remain outside the Schengen area, while Bulgaria and Romania are now set to become the latest members.

By Vafa Guliyeva