Romania and Bulgaria Celebrate Full Schengen Membership: A Milestone in EU Integration

Romania and Bulgaria have officially joined the Schengen Area, marking a significant achievement after years of negotiations. The historic event was celebrated with ceremonies at several key border crossings, symbolizing the final integration of the two countries into the European Union’s ID-check-free travel zone.

Schengen Membership: A Long-Awaited Achievement
After more than a decade of efforts, Romania and Bulgaria have now completed their journey to full Schengen membership. The two countries, which joined the EU in 2007, have worked since 2011 to gain entry into the Schengen zone, which enables free movement within the EU without the need for border checks. The celebrations took place on the first day of 2025, with the caretaker Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Dimitar Glavchev, lifting the border barrier at the Kulata crossing between Bulgaria and Greece.

This marks a momentous occasion for the 25 million residents of both countries, who now join nearly 450 million EU citizens with unrestricted travel access across the Schengen Area. The move also enhances connectivity and cooperation between these nations and the broader European Union.

Symbolic Border Ceremonies and Open Frontiers
The celebrations involved symbolic acts at important border points. On January 1st, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Glavchev officially lifted the barrier at the Kulata crossing, signaling the end of physical border checks. Similarly, at the Ruse-Giurgiu crossing between Romania and Bulgaria, the interior ministers of both countries gathered for an official ceremony to mark the event. Additionally, a short ceremony was held at a border crossing between Hungary and Romania, with Hungary’s national chief of police and Romania’s border police chief meeting to symbolize the opening of the frontier.

The End of Border Checks: Easier Travel Across the EU
Prior to this, residents of Romania and Bulgaria had to endure long waits at border crossings with their Schengen neighbors. With full membership, citizens of both countries can now travel freely to countries like France, Spain, and Norway without showing passports or identity documents, making travel more convenient and efficient. Although all border controls have been removed, random security checks will continue for at least six months, especially for larger vehicles, as a precautionary measure to prevent criminal activities.

Regional and EU Benefits: Strengthening Ties and Boosting Tourism
The opening of borders also holds promise for strengthening regional cooperation, especially with neighboring Hungary, where many ethnic Hungarians reside in Romania’s Transylvania region. This new ease of movement is expected to improve relations between the two countries, which have historically experienced tension. Additionally, the removal of border checks and the new ease of access is expected to boost tourism and trade, particularly benefiting Romania and Bulgaria’s growing tourism sectors.

Significance for EU Integration
Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen Area represents an important step in the continued integration of Eastern Europe into the EU framework. The EU’s commitment to expanding the Schengen zone underscores the Union’s goal of fostering cooperation, unity, and security across all member states, further strengthening the political and economic ties within Europe.