The European Commission unanimously agreed to admit Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen zone, beginning with the removal of air and sea border checks in March 2024.
This expansion is expected to enhance travel, trade, and tourism while strengthening the internal market. Discussions about removing land border controls will proceed in 2024.
The inclusion of these countries in the Schengen area is seen as a step towards strengthening the European Union both internally and globally.
President von der Leyen said: “This is a major step forward for both countries and the Schengen area as a whole. Congratulations to Bulgaria and Romania: this great achievement is possible thanks to your hard work, commitment, and perseverance.”
The readiness of Bulgaria and Romania for Schengen membership has been affirmed by the Commission. Since the initial confirmation in 2011, both countries have consistently met the criteria for membership. This was further validated by inspections at their external borders in 2022 and 2023.
Additionally, in March 2023, the Commission initiated pilot projects with both countries to improve border management, enhance international cooperation, and streamline asylum and return processes.
The Schengen area itself has been preparing to welcome these new members. Over the past decade, the EU has enhanced its security infrastructure to maintain a secure area without internal border controls. This includes improvements in security, police, and judicial collaboration.
The Schengen zone now benefits from a new governance framework, evaluation mechanism, and a system of annual reporting and monitoring. These collective efforts have made Schengen more robust and resilient.
This ninth expansion of the Schengen area reaffirms and strengthens the trust and unity among Member States, essential to the Schengen agreement.
It promises to fortify the Union by enhancing border protection and police collaboration, increasing prosperity by reducing border delays and facilitating business and personal interactions, and making the area more appealing by expanding the world’s largest zone without internal border checks.
