Bulgaria and Romania will soon join the Schengen area

Bulgaria and Romania join the Schengen Area: a new chapter of European integration.

On January 1, 2025, Bulgaria and Romania will become full members of the Schengen area, joining the visa-free area of the European Union. This historic decision taken by the EU Council will mark a new chapter in the European integration process for these countries, which joined the EU in 2007.

The long road to full membership

The road to full membership in the Schengen area has been long and challenging for Bulgaria and Romania. Despite joining the EU more than 15 years ago, these countries still remained outside the visa-free area due to concerns of some member states about illegal immigration and smuggling. Over the years, Bulgaria and Romania have reformed and strengthened their borders to meet the strict criteria of the Schengen Agreement. However, their efforts were often resisted by countries such as Austria, which had long opposed their entry into Schengen.

The turning point was Austria's decision to lift its veto after assessing the reduced risks of illegal immigration. This paved the way for the full integration of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area. To ensure security, an international police team will be deployed at the Bulgarian-Turkish border, which will be the new external border of the Schengen area, from January 2025. This decision is aimed at strengthening control and preventing illegal border crossings.

Security and economic benefits

The full accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Area will bring significant benefits for the security and economy of these countries, as well as for the entire European Union. In the field of security, Bulgaria and Romania will have full access to the Schengen Information System, which will allow for a more effective fight against cross-border crime and illegal migration. Cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of the member states will also improve significantly.

In economic terms, the abolition of border controls will greatly facilitate the movement of people and goods between Bulgaria, Romania and other Schengen countries. This should stimulate trade, tourism and business activity, bringing additional revenues to the economies of these countries. Free movement of labor will also be one of the benefits of joining the Schengen zone. Bulgarian and Romanian citizens will be able to find work more easily in other EU countries, while companies will have greater access to qualified personnel from these countries.

Apart from practical benefits, full membership in the Schengen Area has great symbolic significance for Bulgaria and Romania. It underscores their integration into the European community and recognizes the progress these countries have made in the areas of security, rule of law and respect for democratic values. Despite the positive aspects, some experts express concern about a possible increase in illegal migration and smuggling across the new external borders of the Schengen area. In this regard, the European Union plans to increase support to Bulgaria and Romania in securing their eastern borders.

In addition, further measures will be taken to strengthen cooperation and information exchange between the law enforcement agencies of the participating countries. This will allow for more effective detection and suppression of illegal border crossings and other illegal activities.

A new era of European integration

The accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area will mark the beginning of a new era of European integration. This decision will be an important step towards creating a closer and safer community of EU countries, where citizens will be able to move, work and do business freely without unnecessary restrictions. The successful integration of these countries into the Schengen area can also serve as an example for other candidates for visa-free accession to the European Union in the future.

The full membership of Bulgaria and Romania in the Schengen Area is an important development that will bring significant benefits for the security, economy and further rapprochement of the European Union countries. Despite concerns about the new external borders, the EU is taking the necessary steps to ensure security and effective cooperation.

The decision is also of great symbolic importance, reaffirming Bulgaria and Romania's commitment to European values and their successful integration into the European community since joining the EU in 2007.