Bulgaria and Romania could become full Schengen members in January

(Patria) - Bulgaria and Romania could become full members of the Schengen area in January 2025, Hungary announced yesterday, adding that the final decision will be made at a meeting of EU interior ministers next month.

Bulgaria and Romania, EU and NATO members, partially entered the Schengen area in March, following an agreement with Austria, which initially opposed it, arguing that they needed to do more to combat illegal immigration.

At that time, border controls in air and maritime traffic were lifted, and negotiations with Austria continued.

- The two countries have taken significant steps to gain full membership. We are one step closer to Bulgaria and Romania becoming full Schengen members - said Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter at a press conference, after talks with his Romanian, Bulgarian and Austrian counterparts.

❗️BREAKING! Interior ministers of Austria, Bulgaria and Romania signed a joint agreement in Budapest for Bulgaria and Romania to join the Schengen Area. #HU24EU pic.twitter.com/3EH7s76izu

— Zoltan Kovacs (@zoltanspox) November 22, 2024

Pinter added that a package of security measures will be presented at the EU interior ministers meeting on December 11, including arrangements for at least 100 border guards on the border between Turkey and Bulgaria.

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Monday that the two countries will join the Schengen area next year, and described the meeting in Budapest, where the final document will be agreed upon, as "crucial".

He stated that the Dutch parliament, which opposes Bulgaria's accession, will also have to approve the document.

Romania and Bulgaria are located on important routes for illegal trafficking of weapons, drugs and people, but the European Commission said that after a detailed investigation it determined that they meet all conditions for Schengen membership.

Romania assessed that Austria's opposition was unjustified, citing as evidence Frontex data according to which illegal immigrants entered the EU predominantly from the Western Balkans, not from Romania.