Romania & Bulgaria become full member of EU’s Schengen area
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Romania and Bulgaria have officially become the full member of the European Union’s (EU) Schengen area at the stroke of midnight on 1 January 2025. Until now both countries had partial membership of the Schengen area.
Now 25 out of the 27 member countries of the European Union are members of the Schengen area except Cyprus and Ireland.
Schengen areas facilitate free travel for the nationals of the member countries to travel to another country for work, business, tourism, etc purposes without any checks and border restrictions.
Romania and Bulgaria Joins Schengen after 13 years
Romani and Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007. They partially joined the Schengen area in March 2024 and their citizens were allowed to enter the Schengen area through air or sea freely.
However, they were not allowed to enter the Schengen area through land borders freely and were subjected to the usual procedure of checking.
The main reason for the land checking was the opposition of Austria which felt that these two countries were not doing enough to prevent illegal migrants from entering the Schengen area.
After Austria dropped its objection both the countries were finally fully integrated with the Schengen area.
About Schengen Area
The Schengen area was established by the European Union in 1985 to permit document-free travel by the citizens of the member countries.
Benefits of Schengen Area
It guarantees free movement of European Union citizens, and non-European Union nationals living in the European Union or visiting the European Union as tourists, exchange students, or for business purposes without any border checks or verification.
It guarantees every European Union citizen to travel, work, and live in a European Union country without special formalities.
Members of the Schengen Area
Initially, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands joined the Schengen area in 1985.
Over a period of time, its membership expanded, and presently it consists of 29 countries
European Union member countries that are members of the Schengen area are as
follows: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Portugal, Latvia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Croatia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, and Sweden.
Non European Union Members - Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
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