Romania-Bulgaria Partially Join Schengen Zone

• 02 Apr 2024

Recently, Romania and Bulgaria partially entered the Schengen area, allowing free travel by air or sea but retaining land border checks.

Key Points

• Land border checks remain due to opposition, primarily from Austria, over concerns about illegal migration.
• Schengen Zone: With Romania and Bulgaria joining, now the Schengen Zone consists of 29 members; it includes 25 out of 27 member countries of the European Union and 4 other countries – Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
• Political and Economic Implications: Romania and Bulgaria's full accession to Schengen has been delayed by Austria's veto, despite meeting technical criteria.
• Both countries aim for full accession by implementing security measures to combat illegal migration and cross-border crime.
• Impact on Travel and Economy: Eased regulations expected to benefit tourism and facilitate operations at Bulgaria's international airports.
• Concerns raised by European Parliament members about long queues at land borders and their impact on trade and driver safety.
• Challenges and Opportunities: Delays at land borders pose challenges for truck drivers, impacting trade and costing the sector millions annually.
• Continued efforts to streamline border controls and address logistical challenges are crucial for the region's economic integration.