Romania, Bulgaria Become Full Members Of Schengen Area

Residents of Romania and Bulgaria can now travel freely within the Schengen area, joining nearly 450 million EU citizens who already enjoy unrestricted movement.

The milestone comes 17 years after Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union (EU) and over a decade after negotiations to enter the Schengen Area began in 2011.

With the lifting of land border checks, the 25 million residents of these two countries became full participants in the Schengen zone on January 1, 2025, Jen Marsden reported for Euronews.

The milestone comes 17 years after Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union (EU) and over a decade after negotiations to enter the Schengen Area began in 2011.

The European Commission's approval in December marked a significant step, affirming the countries' full integration into the EU, the Associated Press (AP) noted. The Schengen zone, established in 1985, now includes 29 countries, encompassing most EU nations as well as non-EU members like Iceland and Switzerland.

Prior to this change, residents of Romania and Bulgaria faced lengthy queues and identity checks at the 30 land borders between the two nations. The new arrangement allows them to travel by car to destinations like France, Spain, and Norway without passports or additional controls.