Romania and Bulgaria have become the 28th and 29th members of the Schengen Area, the EU’s passport-free travel zone, after waiting for 13 years, with notable exception of land borders.
Road checks will remain for now, much to the frustration of lorry drivers, due to Austria’s lone veto, fearing an influx of asylum seekers.
Despite this partial entry, confined to airports and maritime ports, the step holds significant symbolic value.
“This is a tremendous achievement for both countries,” stated Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, in a release.
She added that this was a historic moment for the Schengen Area, the world’s largest passport-free zone, saying, “Together, we are building a stronger, more united Europe for all our citizens.”
With these two additions, the zone, established in 1985, now consists of 29 members: 25 out of the 27 EU member states, and their associated neighbours Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Iceland.
