Romania and Bulgaria will join Schengen via land borders on January 1, 2025

Romania and Bulgaria will join Schengen

According to Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, Romania will join the Schengen Zone via land borders on January 1, 2025.
Today, Austria lifted its veto of Romania and Bulgaria’s full Schengen accession.

According to Ylva Johansson, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, a vote on the issue could be expected on December 12–13.

According to Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, Romania will join the Schengen Area in terms of land borders on January 1, 2025.

Bulgaria and Romania are traveling together to become members of Schengen. Thus, Bulgaria will also be affected by Romania’s full Schengen accession.

In connection with the meeting between the interior ministers of Austria, Bulgaria, Romania, and the host nation, Hungary, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Romanian prime minister met with his Hungarian counterpart on Friday, November 22, as part of his current visit to Budapest.

Developing a joint package and other measures for Romania and Bulgaria to fully integrate into Schengen was one of the topics of today’s working meeting between the interior ministers.

According to a Hungarian spokesperson, the interior ministers of Austria, Romania, and Bulgaria met with Hungary today and came to a joint agreement that cleared the path for Romania and Bulgaria to join the land border.

Orban: Complete Schengen Accession Requirements Have Been Fulfilled
Viktor Orban stated that all requirements for Romania and Bulgaria’s entry into the Schengen Zone have been fulfilled during a press conference with the prime ministers of Romania and Hungary.

We decided that with effect from January 1, Romania will join the Schengen Area by land as well as by air, a decision that must be approved by all EU interior ministers.

Viktor Orban, Hungary’s prime minister
Furthermore, Sandor Pinter, the interior minister of Hungary, stated today that the two Balkan nations have made great strides toward full membership.

At the upcoming EU Council for Justice and Home Affairs meeting on December 12, which also includes a vote on the agenda, a final decision regarding the resolution of this matter is anticipated.

The vote is expected to take place between December 12 and 13, according to Ylva Johansson, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, who attended the ministerial meeting. She said she hoped the controls at land borders would be lifted entirely by January 2025.

Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament, praised the new ruling as well, emphasizing that “a stronger Schengen means a stronger Europe.”