US (Washington Insider Magazine) —Romania and Bulgaria are on track to join the Schengen Area, the European Union’s passport-free travel zone, by March 2024, with initial access limited to air and sea borders. This marks a major milestone for the two Balkan nations, which joined the EU in 2007 and have been pushing for full Schengen entry for over a decade.
After years of stalled negotiations, Romanian and Bulgarian leaders recently announced a breakthrough, with both governments confirming an agreement reached on December 23. Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu celebrated the milestone, stating, “After 13 years, finally Romania will join Schengen! We have a political agreement on this!” Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov also affirmed the news in a recent government session.
Austria had previously blocked the expansion of the Schengen zone, citing concerns over illegal immigration. However, under pressure and facing potential steps by Brussels to reinforce the EU’s external borders, Vienna recently agreed to allow “Air Schengen” as a first step, with the potential for land border integration later. Austria’s conservative People’s Party, under the influence from the far-right Freedom Party, has taken a stringent stance on immigration, complicating Schengen enlargement talks.
Currently, the Schengen Area consists of 27 countries, granting free movement to over 400 million people within Europe. Romania and Bulgaria’s upcoming entry leaves only Ireland and Cyprus as EU members outside Schengen. For many Romanians and Bulgarians, inclusion in Schengen symbolizes deeper integration into Europe and greater ease of travel, while also benefiting trade and tourism in both countries.
This phased integration will allow Romania and Bulgaria to strengthen their positions in Europe while easing migration concerns voiced by other member states. As negotiations continue, officials will evaluate expanding access to land borders, potentially by late 2024. The agreement represents a long-awaited victory for the Balkan states and a shift in EU border policies, emphasizing both internal unity and external security.