Romania and Bulgaria join Schengen area after 13-year wait, ending border checks

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Romania and Bulgaria have officially become full members of the Schengen Area, ending a 13-year wait and expanding the borderless zone to 29 countries.

The move, which came into effect at midnight (22:00 GMT) on Wednesday, marks a significant milestone for the two Eastern European nations. It follows the lifting of objections, mainly from Austria, and signals the cessation of identification checks at their land borders with neighbouring European Union (EU) countries.

This expansion means that travellers can now move freely between Bulgaria, Romania, and the other 27 EU member states. The two countries had previously gained partial access to the Schengen Area in March, but the open travel was initially restricted to air and sea arrivals.

Ceremonies were held at various border posts to celebrate the milestone, with Bulgaria’s and Romania’s interior ministers meeting at the Ruse-Giurgiu border crossing, which connects the two nations. Another ceremony took place at a border point between Hungary and Romania, where Hungary's national chief of police met Romania's border police chief inspector.

A long-awaited integration

Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007, but their accession to the Schengen Zone had been delayed due to concerns over migration control, particularly from Austria. Despite these objections, the expansion was finally secured after months of diplomatic efforts, including Hungary’s leadership during its EU presidency.

The Schengen Area, one of the EU's key achievements, was initially formed in 1985 with five founding countries: France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Over time, the area has expanded to include 23 EU member states, as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

Today, approximately 3.5 million people cross internal borders daily within the Schengen Area, which includes around 420 million people across its member states.

However, the Schengen zone’s integrity has been challenged in recent years. Some member countries, including the Netherlands, Austria, and Germany, reintroduced internal border checks in 2023 due to concerns related to migration and security. Some EU officials have warned that such measures could undermine the very principles of the Schengen agreement.