As of January 1, 2025, Bulgaria and Romania have officially become full members of the Schengen Area, resulting in the cancellation of internal border checks with other Schengen countries. This decision comes after EU interior ministers approved the measure nearly three weeks ago, following Austria's removal of its veto.
Travelers and truck drivers entering Bulgaria and Romania from Hungary or Greece will no longer be required to undergo mandatory checks. Specifically, document checks will no longer be necessary at six official crossing points along the Bulgarian-Greek border. Additionally, only unannounced, selective checks will be conducted on a 30-kilometer stretch of the Romanian border.
In March, both countries had already eliminated checks at airports and seaports for arrivals from other member states. With the inclusion of Bulgaria and Romania, the Schengen Area now comprises 29 countries, including 25 of the 27 EU member states, along with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
Bucharest and Sofia joined the EU in 2007. Prior to their full membership in the Schengen Zone, Bulgaria faced annual losses of €834 million, while Romania's losses amounted to €2.32 billion, according to the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). Additionally, Romanian transport companies incurred further losses of €90 million annually due to delays at border crossings.
The Austrian Minister of the Interior, Gerhard Karner, attributed the change in Austria's position to a significant reduction in illegal border crossings. In recent months, several Schengen countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, have reinstated border controls in response to rising illegal migration.