European Union ministers have approved the full integration of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen Area, the EU\u2019s border-free travel zone, by lifting land border checks starting January 1, 2025. The move was announced on Thursday by Hungary, which currently holds the EU presidency.<\/p>\n
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The decision marks the final step in the inclusion of both nations in Schengen, following their partial admission in March, which allowed air and sea travel without ID checks but maintained land border controls due to opposition, mainly from Austria. Concerns had been raised over the countries\u2019 efforts to curb unauthorized migration.<\/p>\n
\u201cInterior ministers have just adopted a decision to lift internal land border controls with and between Bulgaria and Romania,\u201d Hungary\u2019s presidency posted on X (formerly Twitter). \u201cA great victory for Bulgaria, Romania, and all of Europe!\u201d<\/p>\n
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Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu hailed the decision as a significant boost for the country\u2019s economy and a relief for millions of Romanians traveling within the Schengen area.
\n\u201cThis will mean faster journeys home and greater convenience for our citizens,\u201d Ciolacu stated.<\/p>\n
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Romanian President Klaus Iohannis described the development as \u201cnatural and necessary,\u201d emphasizing its potential to reduce border wait times, cut logistical costs for businesses, and enhance Romania\u2019s appeal to foreign investors.
\n\u201cSchengen membership has been a strategic objective for our country,\u201d Iohannis said, adding that Romania remains committed to securing and strengthening the EU\u2019s external borders to address migration concerns.<\/p>\n
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The Schengen Area, established in 1985, now encompasses 23 of the 27 EU member states, along with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. It facilitates free movement for over 420 million people, allowing them to cross borders without checks. The area is credited with boosting business, tourism, and regional integration across Europe.<\/p>\n
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Bulgaria and Romania\u2019s accession underscores the EU\u2019s commitment to expanding freedom of movement, one of the union\u2019s central pillars. Around 3.5 million people cross Schengen borders daily, making it the largest free travel area in the world.<\/p>\n
This decision highlights the EU’s resolve to deepen integration while addressing shared challenges like border security and migration.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
European Union ministers have approved the full integration of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen Area, the EU\u2019s border-free travel zone, by lifting land border checks starting January 1, 2025. The move was announced on Thursday by Hungary, which currently holds the EU presidency. The decision marks the final step in the inclusion of<\/p>","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":9767,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"twitter_1160854738579181570_1160854738579181570":"","facebook_3558452337540614_100649324928663":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[285,383,266],"class_list":{"0":"post-9766","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-europe","8":"tag-amnewsworld","9":"tag-brussels","10":"tag-reporters"},"yoast_head":"\n