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The European Union has taken a significant step by approving Bulgaria and Romania’s full entry into the Schengen area, an event coinciding with growing challenges for the zone, as some member countries are reinstating border controls.
Under Hungary’s EU presidency, it was announced on Thursday that ministers agreed to remove land border controls between these two Eastern European nations and their neighbors within the EU starting January 1.
The Hungarian presidency exclaimed on social media platform X, “A great victory for Bulgaria, Romania, and all of Europe!” With this move, the Schengen area now boasts 29 full members.
Although Romania and Bulgaria have been part of the EU since 2007, they only achieved partial Schengen membership earlier this year. This delay was due to vetoes from several countries including Austria, who raised concerns about corruption and irregular migration.
It was only after Vienna retracted its veto last month that EU home affairs ministers could proceed with approving the lifting of remaining land border checks for Romania and Bulgaria.
Léon Gloden, Luxembourg’s interior minister, and representative of Schengen’s historical significance, expressed support for this decision ahead of its formal endorsement.
“Luxembourg has always been in favor of Bulgaria and Romania’s full Schengen membership,” he conveyed to the Financial Times. “This membership is essential for safeguarding the external borders of Schengen.”
However, the Schengen area is feeling pressure as certain nations—such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands—have reinstated internal border checks, citing the need to manage migration and crime. Germany has even indicated it might prolong these temporary controls beyond their intended end date in March.
Gloden criticized such actions, asserting that they damage “trust” and “faith” in the fundamental values of the EU. “I do not accept that these barriers will again form in the minds of our citizens,” he stated.
Full Schengen accession has been a longstanding aspiration for both Romania and Bulgaria, symbolizing a milestone amidst political unrest in Sofia and Bucharest.
In Bulgaria, the political landscape has remained unstable, with seven consecutive elections failing to establish a solid ruling majority over the past three years.
In Romania, mainstream political factions have reluctantly formed a coalition following significant gains by the far-right in recent votes, amidst a presidential election plagued by Russian cyber interference and a pro-Moscow candidate gaining unexpected popularity.
Remarkably, Romania’s top court nullified the presidential election results—an unprecedented move in Europe—mandating a re-election next year.
Romanian historian Ion M. Ionita reflected on this significant achievement for Bucharest, albeit expressing a touch of irony. “Access to Schengen has always been a priority, yet we find ourselves preoccupied with entirely different issues and unable to truly celebrate this advancement.”
For Romania, Schengen membership signifies a commitment to Western integration, a point Russia has attempted to challenge.
“Joining the euro remains the final step in Romania’s EU integration,” Ionita added, “Concluding a long-standing discourse about Romanians being second-class EU citizens—something that can no longer be claimed.”
