Bulgaria and Romania finally joined the extensive Schengen area of free movement on Sunday, eliminating border checks for air and sea travel after a 13-year wait.
Austria’s veto, however, prevents the new status from extending to land routes, citing concerns about a potential increase in asylum seekers.
Nonetheless, the removal of controls at Bulgaria and Romania’s air and sea borders holds considerable symbolic importance.
Accession to the Schengen zone marks a crucial milestone for both countries, reflecting a sense of dignity and belonging within the European Union, as noted by foreign policy analyst Stefan Popescu.
Stefan Popescu, a foreign policy analyst, told AFP, “Any Romanian who had to walk down a lane separate from other European citizens felt being treated differently.”
Ivan Petrov, a 35-year-old Bulgarian marketing executive residing in France, expressed enthusiasm for less stressful travel and the time saved.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen hailed the development as a “great success for both countries” and a “historic moment for the Schengen area”, emphasising its status as the largest area of free movement globally, according to a statement released on Saturday.
“Together, we are building a stronger, more united Europe for all our citizens.”
With Bulgaria and Romania joining on Sunday, the Schengen zone will expand to 29 members, encompassing 25 of the 27 European Union member states, along with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
Romania’s government announced that Schengen rules would be implemented in four seaports and 17 airports, with Otopeni Airport near Bucharest serving as the primary hub for Schengen flights.
Additionally, more staff, including border police and immigration officers, will be deployed to airports to assist passengers and detect individuals attempting to leave Romania illegally.
To combat human trafficking and identify individuals with false documents, random checks will be conducted.
Bulgaria and Romania aim to fully integrate into the Schengen area by the year’s end, but Austria has only agreed to lift controls on air and sea routes for now.
Croatia, despite joining the EU after Romania and Bulgaria, became the 27th member of the Schengen area in January 2023.
Indeed, established in 1985, the Schengen area enables seamless travel for over 400 million individuals by removing internal border controls.
While some rejoice over the Schengen integration, truck drivers are left feeling neglected as they encounter endless queues at borders with their European neighbours.
Recently, Romania’s primary road transport union, the UNTRR, urged for “urgent measures” to achieve full Schengen integration, highlighting the substantial financial losses incurred due to prolonged waits.
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