The Council of the European Union admitted Bulgaria and Romania to full membership of the Schengen area on December 12, deciding unanimously that land borders with the two countries will be lifted as of January 1, 2025.

The years-long delay of this decision, repeatedly vetoed by Schengen members in the past, has led to significant financial losses for the two countries. 

“It is a historic moment to finally welcome Bulgaria and Romania as full Schengen members. Lifting checks on persons at the internal land borders with and between those member states has been a top priority for the Hungarian [EU Council] presidency, and today we have made it a reality. This step will benefit not only Bulgarian and Romanian citizens, but also the EU as a whole,” Sandor Pinter, Hungary’s minister of home affairs, said in a statement published by the EU Council after the adoption of the decision.

Hungary will chair the EU Council until the end of December, and has made the the lifting of land borders with Bulgaria and Romania a priority of its presidency. 

A joint statement by the governments of Bulgaria and Romania welcomed the decision, expressing their “deep satisfaction with regard to this new recognition of their role as consistent contributors to the consolidation of European security”. 

“[T]he to the free-movement area of both countries brings direct benefits for their citizens, will enhance economic opportunities for their businesses, and will also promote growth within the Single Market,” the statement added. 

The decision comes amid the deepest political crisis Bulgaria has faced in its post-communist history, and a separate crisis in Romania, where the presidential election was recently cancelled amid suspicions of significant violations and strong Russian influence on the process. 

The refusal of some Schengen members to admit Bulgaria and Romania had political implications in both countries, leading to complaints they were viewed as “second class” EU members.

This was referenced by Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu in a statement on December 12. “This is a victory for justice and national dignity, and a clear signal that we will never accept to be treated as second-class citizens in Europe!” he commented. 

“Lifting the border checks will facilitate trade and reduce logistics costs for Romanian companies doing business with partners in European states. This means that Romanian goods will become more competitive, boosting the economy and creating new business opportunities and jobs,” the Romanian prime minister added. 

“This decision brings tangible and immediate benefits for Romanian citizens … There will no longer be hours-long waits at borders; instead, people will travel freely, without additional checks.” 

Partial entry 

At the end of March this year, Bulgaria and Romania, which fulfilled all criteria for Schengen membership years ago, were admitted to the bloc but only for air and sea travel. Austria blocked the lifting of land borders, demanding stricter control of entry of illegal migrants from the two countries.

The Netherlands also previously blocked admission to Schengen, citing significant corruption in Bulgaria. However, last December, the Netherlands lifted its veto following a set of reforms adopted by Sofia.

After that, only Austria held out against full membership for the two countries. A breakthrough came in November, when Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania signed a joint declaration in Budapest, in which Austria pledged to lift the veto during the meeting of the Council of the EU on December 12. Vienna then confirmed on December 10 it was withdrawing its veto. 

There was a last minute setback when members of the ruling coalition in the Netherlands attempted to pass a new resolution against allowing the lifting of land borders with the two Southeast European countries, but it was rejected by half the ruling party MPs as well as by the opposition on December 11.