Romania and Bulgaria Achieve Full Schengen Membership

Romania and Bulgaria have been approved to join the Schengen area, with the decision taking effect on January 1, 2025. This move, decided by European interior ministers in Brussels, will eliminate borders between these countries and the rest of the Schengen zone. Despite meeting the requirements since 2010, their accession was delayed due to migration concerns, particularly from Austria, which recently agreed not to veto the decision after Bulgaria committed to increasing border security with Turkey.