The Daily Star Ireland
Romania and Bulgaria have officially joined the Schengen zone, expanding the borderless area to 29 members and concluding a 13-year wait for these two eastern European nations. This milestone was achieved when Austria and other countries withdrew their objections, allowing the inclusion to take effect at midnight, marked by ceremonies at various border points.
Both Romania and Bulgaria, EU members since 2007, had already been partially integrated into the Schengen zone in March, removing border checks at ports and airports. However, Austria’s migration concerns had delayed their full entry, keeping controls in place at land borders.
Austria lifted its veto in December after reaching an agreement on a “border protection package” with Romania and Bulgaria. This agreement, signed in November, includes the deployment of joint guards at the Bulgarian-Turkish border and temporary land crossing controls for six months.
The Schengen zone, established in 1985, now includes 25 of the EU’s 27 members, along with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, covering over 400 million people. Ireland and Cyprus remain outside the Schengen area.
Despite meeting Schengen’s technical requirements since 2011, Romania and Bulgaria faced repeated objections from other member states, causing frustration and claims of unfair treatment, which were exploited by anti-EU parties. This sentiment played a role in Romania’s recent presidential elections, where far-right candidate Calin Georgescu won the first round before the election was canceled due to allegations of Russian interference.
The expansion of the Schengen zone is seen as a historic achievement, expected to boost the GDP of Romania and Bulgaria by at least one percentage point. Lorry drivers, who have faced long waits at border crossings, welcomed the news, citing the inefficiency of waiting for hours without being able to rest.
However, analysts caution that poor road and rail infrastructure in Bulgaria may limit the benefits. Meanwhile, the tourism sectors in both countries anticipate an increase in visitors to neighboring Greece. Sales manager Ivailo Kirkov, who owns a house in northern Greece, and Greek teacher and tour guide Gueorgui Grantcharov, both predict a surge in Romanian and Bulgarian tourists, now that border queues are eliminated and travel times are reduced.
