Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

The European Union member states have decided to remove checks on people at internal land borders with and between Bulgaria and Romania as of January 1, 2025. The announcement came on the sidelines of the two-day meetings of the interior and justice ministers of the member states, which began today, Thursday, in Brussels.

Andor Pinter, the Hungarian Minister of Interior, whose country holds the current rotating presidency of the Union, said: "It is a historic moment to finally welcome Bulgaria and Romania as full members of Schengen. Lifting checks on people at internal land borders with and between these member states was a top priority for the Hungarian Presidency, and today we have made it a reality. This step will not only benefit Bulgarian and Romanian citizens, but also the European Union as a whole.
Since joining the European Union, Bulgaria and Romania have implemented parts of the Schengen legal framework (Schengen acquis), including those relating to external border controls, police cooperation and the use of the Schengen Information System.
On December 30, 2023, the Council adopted a decision to implement the remaining parts of the Schengen acquis Schengen from 31 March 2024 and the abolition of checks on people at internal land borders by air and sea.
Schengen is the largest free travel area in the world. Border checks between France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg were first abolished in 1985. The Schengen Area now covers 29 countries (25 of the 27 Member States, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) and 420 million people. Internal border controls with Cyprus have not yet been lifted, and Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area.
The Presidency has put the adoption of the Council decision setting the date for the lifting of checks on people at internal land borders with and between Bulgaria and Romania on the agenda of the ministers’ meeting. The two countries already fully apply the Schengen rules as of 31 March 2024. Internal air and sea border controls with Bulgaria and Romania have also been lifted as of that date.
The ministers will also review the overall situation of the Schengen Area at the Brussels meetings. In particular, the ministers will exchange views on the implementation of the priorities of the annual Schengen Council session. The discussion will focus on increasing public security through digitization.