Traveling without border controls: EU agreement: Romania and Bulgaria join the Schengen area

Bulgaria and Romania can fully join the border-free Schengen area from the beginning of January. After controls at airports and sea borders have been abolished since March, free travel across land borders is now possible, as the Hungarian EU Council Presidency announced following a unanimous decision by the 27 member states in Brussels.

The Schengen area allows people to travel in Europe without being checked at the borders. A total of 29 countries are included, including EU member states such as Germany and France, but also non-EU countries such as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Recently, however, many governments – including the German one – have reintroduced border controls in the fight against irregular migration.

New members can only be accepted into the Schengen area unanimously. Austria had blocked liberalization at its land borders for a long time, but recently gave up resistance. Romania and Bulgaria had been waiting for the decision since 2011.

Vienna justified its veto by saying that large numbers of migrants could continue to come into the country via the two countries. Among other things, stronger external border protection now ensures that migrants are no longer waved through, it was now said.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser welcomed the Schengen expansion on the sidelines of the interior ministers’ meeting. Both countries would take good care of secure external border protection. When asked, the SPD politician described Austria’s previous delay as a mistake. It’s also about trust in the European Commission, said Faeser. If you set criteria for accession and they are met, then you have to be consistent enough to implement them. She is happy that this step has now been taken.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said the move would increase the competitiveness of Romanian products and the country’s attractiveness for foreign investors. With regard to migration, Iohannis also assured: “Romania will continue to act responsibly to protect and strengthen the Union’s external borders, including the effective management of illegal migration.” Bulgarian President Rumen Radev also emphasized that his country’s accession to Schengen would strengthen Bulgaria’s European integration and its economy and, above all, bring relief to its citizens.

All EU member states will become full members of the Schengen area as soon as they are ready. This is both a right and an obligation.

Romania and Bulgaria had already joined the EU in 2007. Until September, the judiciary and the rule of law there were under special surveillance by the EU Commission due to rampant corruption and organized crime. Because of these problems, there was no unanimity among the heads of state and government for accession for a long time.

Originally, the Schengen agreement was only about the free movement of people. But over time the agreement was expanded. Today it also regulates cooperation between police authorities so that crimes can be better combated across borders.