Bulgaria and Romania Become Partial Members of the Visa-Free Schengen Area

On March 31st, Bulgaria and Romania achieved a significant milestone in their integration with the European Union by becoming partial members of the Schengen Area, Europe’s zone of free movement without internal border controls. After years of negotiations to join the Schengen area, there is now free access for travellers arriving by air or sea from both countries.

While this accomplishment represents a monumental leap forward for both countries, allowing unrestricted travel by air and sea, it’s important to note that land border checks remain in place due to objections primarily from Austria, citing concerns over illegal migration.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised this development as a “huge success for both countries” and a “historic moment” for the Schengen Area, the world’s largest free travel zone. The Schengen Area, established in 1985, originally comprised 23 EU member states along with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, facilitating the daily movement of around 3.5 million people across internal borders.

Although Austria vetoed the full admission of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen Zone at the end of 2022, it allowed Croatia to join without restrictions. However, Bulgaria and Romania, both EU members since 2007, have been fulfilling the criteria for Schengen membership for years, according to Siegfried Muresan, a Romanian Member of the European Parliament.

He views this partial accession as a crucial step forward, benefiting millions of travellers annually and offering additional arguments for overcoming the last remaining veto.

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu hailed this achievement as well-deserved, emphasizing the positive impact on citizens’ travel convenience and the economy. Both countries have committed to implementing random security screenings at airports and maritime borders to combat illegal migration and cross-border crime, a requirement for Schengen accession.

Bulgaria’s Interior Minister, Kalin Stoyanov, affirmed the country’s determination to achieve full Schengen accession by the end of 2024, emphasizing Bulgaria’s commitment to deterring illegal migration. The removal of border controls is expected to streamline operations at Bulgaria’s international airports, particularly in Sofia, the capital, which serves as a major hub for Schengen flights.

However, concerns have been raised about potential challenges at the EU’s land borders, where long queues could impact trade within the bloc’s single market and pose risks to the health and safety of drivers.

Truck drivers, in particular, face significant delays at the borders of both Romania and Bulgaria, costing the sector tens of millions of euros annually, according to estimates from the Union of International Carriers in Bulgaria.

While Bulgaria and Romania celebrate their partial Schengen membership as a significant achievement, there remain challenges to address, particularly regarding land border operations and their impact on trade and transportation.