BRUSSELS: European Union member states have officially decided to integrate Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen Area, lifting internal land border checks starting January 1, 2025. This decision marks a significant milestone for both countries, which have been part of the EU since 2007 but had not yet joined the Schengen free-travel zone.
According to Emirates News Agency, Bulgaria and Romania have been progressively implementing the Schengen legal framework, known as the Schengen acquis, which includes regulations on external border control, police cooperation, and the use of the Schengen Information System. On December 30, 2023, the EU Council made a decisive move to apply the remaining parts of the Schengen acquis from March 31, 2024, further paving the way for the lifting of internal air and sea border checks.
The Schengen Area is the largest open-travel zone globally, now including 29 countries. This encompasses 25 of the 27 EU member states, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland
, covering a total population of 420 million. Notably, internal border controls remain in place with Cyprus and Ireland, which are not part of the Schengen Area.
