Bulgaria and Romania are taking a small step into the EU's border-free zone. The countries have agreed with Austria to gain access to the Schengen area, at least partially.
Both Bulgaria and Romania are members of the EU, but along with Cyprus and Ireland, they are the only EU member states that are not part of the Schengen area. This means that they must have border controls with other member states and that Romanians and Bulgarians cannot travel freely within the EU.
”"After 13 years, Romania will finally join Schengen! We have reached a political agreement," Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced via social media.
Austria has been the last country to continue to veto the two Eastern European countries' joining Schengen, citing that the EU's external border controls have been too weak and that many migrants come to Austria illegally.
According to what has emerged from the agreement, Romanians and Bulgarians will be able to travel to the other Schengen countries without border controls from March 2024 – if they travel by plane or sea.
People travelling by land will still have to stop at border checkpoints and identify themselves for the time being. That issue has been postponed for further discussions next year. The Austrian government announced in December that it was prepared to agree to an expanded ”air Schengen” if the EU’s external border controls were strengthened.
Romania borders EU member Hungary to the west and Bulgaria borders Greece to the south. The countries joined the EU in 2007.
Source:TT-Aftonbladet.se
