International

Romania and Bulgaria set to join Schengen in 2025

Romania and Bulgaria may fully join the Schengen Area for free movement in January 2025, Hungary's Interior Minister Sandor Pinter announced on Friday.

He added that the final decision will be made at the EU interior ministers’ meeting on December 11, as reported by Reuters.

"The two countries have made significant progress towards achieving full membership status," said Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter during a press conference, following discussions with his Romanian, Bulgarian, and Austrian counterparts. "We are... one step closer to Bulgaria and Romania becoming full members of Schengen," he added.

Pinter announced that a security package would be presented at the EU interior ministers' meeting on December 11, which includes arrangements for at least 100 border police officers to safeguard the border between Turkey and Bulgaria.

Romania and Bulgaria are major transit routes for illegal arms and drug trafficking, as well as human trafficking. However, the European Commission stated, after a thorough investigation, that both countries had met all Schengen requirements.

Romania described Austria's opposition as unjustified, citing data from the Frontex border agency showing that illegal migrants primarily entered the EU via the Western Balkans, not from Romania.

"Romania and Bulgaria fully belong to the Schengen Area. The removal of internal land border controls is the final hurdle. I welcome the positive outcome of today’s (Friday’s) informal discussions in Budapest. The official decision by the @EUCouncil is next," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen responded on the X platform.

Similarly, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola also welcomed the "positive development regarding the full accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Area" on the X platform, noting that the European Parliament has been at the forefront of this effort from the outset.

"A stronger Schengen means a stronger Europe," Metsola said, adding that she eagerly anticipates a final decision in the coming days.

EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, also expressed her support, stating that "the citizens of Romania and Bulgaria belong in Schengen and deserve to fully benefit from the freedoms of this shared space."

"Today, we took an important step towards a positive decision by the Council next month," said the Swedish politician, who will no longer serve as Commissioner for Home Affairs after December 11. Her portfolio is set to be taken over by Austrian Magnus Brunner, provided that next week's plenary vote in the European Parliament validates— as expected— the new European Commission, which will begin its work on December 1, reports EFE.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

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