Council Lifts Land Border Controls, Completing Bulgaria and Romania Schengen Entry

A two-step accession

The Council decided in December 2023 to welcome Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area. In the first step, on 31 March 2024, controls at internal air and sea borders were lifted and the Schengen rules began to apply in both countries, including on the issuing of Schengen visas, as the Commission announced at the time. That left land border checks in place until the Council set a date for their removal, which it has now done.

Border and migration cooperation

The Commission said both countries had taken all necessary measures to apply the Schengen rules smoothly. Cooperation Frameworks launched with Bulgaria and Romania in March 2024 build on pilot projects for fast asylum and return procedures, and both Member States will support joint European efforts on security at the EU's external borders and migration. The Commission will continue to offer financial support and assistance from Frontex.

What it means

From 1 January 2025, controls at the internal land borders with and between Bulgaria and Romania will be lifted. The Commission said this should increase travel, trade and tourism and strengthen the internal market, and noted that the Schengen area serves a population of almost 450 million people.

For businesses, the end of land border checks should simplify the movement of staff and goods between Bulgaria, Romania and their Schengen neighbours. The Commission described the step as completing the full entry of both countries into the Schengen area, which it called the most visited destination in the world.

Sources

• European Commission: Statement on the occasion of Bulgaria and Romania becoming fully part of Schengen
• European Commission: Bulgaria and Romania join the Schengen area