Romania and Bulgaria Join Schengen Area on January 1, 2025, After Austria Lifts Veto

Dec 31, 2024, 11:04 PM

Romania and Bulgaria have become full members of the Schengen Area, marking the end of a 13-year wait for the two Eastern European countries. The expansion, effective from January 1, 2025, was celebrated with ceremonies at various border posts. Both nations, members of the European Union since 2007, had been partially included in the Schengen zone since March of the previous year, with border checks eliminated at ports and airports. The full inclusion now extends to land borders, following Austria's decision to lift its veto in December after a border protection agreement was reached. The Schengen Area now encompasses 25 of the EU's 27 member states, along with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, covering a population of over 400 million people. The move is expected to boost the GDP of Romania and Bulgaria by at least one percentage point, with significant benefits anticipated for the transportation and tourism sectors.