Romania and Bulgaria are poised to achieve full Schengen Area membership starting January 1, 2025, following a breakthrough agreement among interior ministers from Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria.
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu confirmed the milestone after discussions in Budapest with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. “After 13 years, Romania will achieve full Schengen accession by the end of this year,” Ciolacu stated, emphasizing that Romania and Bulgaria’s membership are interconnected as a “package deal.”
Austria’s decision to lift its veto on land border accession, previously imposed over irregular migration concerns, removes the last hurdle for the two nations. Romania and Bulgaria had already joined Schengen by air and sea earlier in March 2024.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Interior Minister Sándor Pintér acknowledged that both countries have met all criteria for membership. Orbán emphasised that a final vote is expected during the EU Council for Justice and Home Affairs meeting on December 12-13, paving the way for seamless border controls by early 2025.
European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson expressed optimism for a favorable outcome, echoing the sentiment that full Schengen integration strengthens Europe’s unity and security.
