The European Council agreed to lift land border controls in Bulgaria and Romania, paving the way for the two countries to fully join Europe’s Schengen area.

Key Points:

  • In March, checks were abolished on persons at EU internal air and maritime borders between Bulgaria and Romania and the other countries in the Schengen area.
  • Effective Jan. 1, 2025, checks on persons at internal land borders will be lifted and Bulgaria and Romania will fully join the Schengen area.

Background: The Schengen area will now cover 29 countries (25 of the 27 member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) and grow to 4.5 million square kilometers with a population of 450 million people. The Schengen area is the largest free travel area in the world.

BAL Analysis: The Schengen area is an important component of the EU’s legal framework, and an enlarged Schengen area should spur economic growth and increase travel opportunities. The full integration into Europe’s ID-check-free travel zone should also be significantly positive for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals, who will now have additional access to the world’s largest free travel zone.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

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