On March 31, Bulgaria and Romania joined the Schengen area. The Commission warmly welcomes this achievement, which follows the historic Council decision of December 2023. The accession of these two Member States to the Schengen area will make the common area more attractive by significantly expanding the world's largest common area without internal border checks.
President Von der Leyen said: "Tomorrow is an important day: Bulgaria and Romania are joining the Schengen family. I welcome the abolition of internal air and sea border controls. This is a great success for both countries. And also a historic moment for the Schengen area — the largest area of free movement in the world. Together we are building a stronger and more united Europe for all our citizens."
Since December last year, both Member States have taken all necessary measures to ensure the smooth implementation of Schengen rules from 31 March 2024. In March this year, the Commission together with Bulgaria and Romania launched cooperation frameworks that build on the successful implementation of the pilot projects for expedited asylum and return procedures. With these cooperation frameworks, Romania and Bulgaria will continue to contribute to the strengthening of border and migration cooperation, as well as to joint European efforts to improve the security of the EU's external borders and to address migration-related challenges. .
In addition, a regional initiative for police cooperation between Member States on the routes through the Western Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean was established, involving Bulgaria, Romania, Austria, Greece, Hungary and Slovakia. This will enable a joint and sustainable response to relevant challenges, including in relation to cross-border crime.
Bulgaria and Romania have continuously demonstrated a high degree of commitment to ensuring adequate protection of the EU's external borders, with an unceasing and key contribution to the internal security of the Schengen area.
What's ahead
The Council should take a decision to determine the date from which internal land border checks between Bulgaria, Romania and the other Schengen countries will be abolished. A decision on land borders could be taken in 2024.
Context
Back in 2011, the Commission confirmed in the Schengen evaluation reports that Bulgaria and Romania fulfilled all the requirements to be fully part of the Schengen area. The Commission actively supported this process.
The Schengen area without internal border controls is one of the achievements most valued by EU citizens. Started as an intergovernmental project between five member states in 1985—Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and France—it has gradually expanded to become the world's largest area of free movement. In addition to facilitating the free movement of people without internal border controls, the Schengen area is of significant benefit to the European economy.