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Last December, the interior ministries of Romania and Bulgaria declared that the two countries would become part of the Schengen Area of the European Union.
This region without borders enables unrestricted travel among European Union nations, granting approximately 400 million individuals the privilege of unimpeded transit between participating countries.
In 2022, Croatia became the most recent country to join the European Union, while Romania and Bulgaria have been member states since January 2007. This expansion of the EU’s reach now includes eastern Europe.
Austria was initially against the two nations’ inclusion due to their concerns about excessive illegal immigration. However, the three groups came to a resolution at the end of last year.
By the end of March 2024, both nations will have established air and sea routes, allowing for unrestricted travel for those arriving by plane or boat. The timeline for the opening of land borders has not yet been determined.
What does this imply for individuals traveling to and from these nations?
What does the Schengen Area refer to?
The Schengen Area, consisting of 27 member countries in Europe, enables unrestricted travel between its borders without any border checks.
The European Commission defines it as a region that allows unrestricted travel for over 400 million citizens of the EU, including non-EU residents living in or visiting the EU for tourism, exchange programs, or business.
The concept of “free movement” in the EU allows citizens to freely travel, work, and reside in any EU country without needing extra paperwork. The Schengen Agreement supports this by allowing citizens to move within the Schengen Area without facing border checks.
The zone was established in 1995, following the ratification of the Schengen Agreement a decade prior by the initial 10 participating countries.
Furthermore, the absence of border controls promotes consistency in the entry and visa regulations among its participating nations. However, this is expected to shift with the implementation of the Etias system.
What countries are currently included in the Schengen Area?
The current coverage of the zone includes a large portion of Western and Central Europe.
The region currently consists of 27 countries, but the inclusion of Romania and Bulgaria will bring the total to 29.
Currently, the nations listed below are part of the group: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Ireland and Cyprus will be the only EU countries not included in the agreement once Romania and Bulgaria join. Additionally, four non-EU countries (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein) are also part of the agreement.
When will the Schengen Area welcome new member countries?
Both Bulgaria and Romania are set to become part of the Schengen Area by 31 March, encompassing their air and sea borders in the agreement.
A specific date for the inclusion of land borders has not been determined, and discussions are expected to continue until 2024.
The requirements for joining the area are rigorous, which include assuming the duty of managing external borders for other Schengen nations and effectively collaborating with law enforcement agencies in other Schengen countries to ensure a strong level of security once border controls within Schengen countries are eliminated.
What impact will this have on travelers?
EU residents and travelers entering Bulgaria and Romania from other Schengen Area countries will not undergo passport checks when arriving by flight, ferry, or cruise.
There will continue to be inspections for those entering through land borders, including on buses, trains, and in automobiles.
There will be minimal impact on British travelers planning to visit these two nations. Those traveling to cities like Bucharest and Sofia will undergo standard passport checks like in other European countries, unless they are coming from a Schengen Area nation.
It is crucial to keep in mind that the regulation stating that individuals who are not residents can only remain in the EU for a maximum of 90 days within a 180 day timeframe without a visa will now also apply to Romania and Bulgaria. This means that trips to these two countries will be included in the 90-day restriction.
The countries in the EU have consistent passport validity requirements. Upon entry, your passport must have a ‘date of issue’ that is within 10 years of your arrival date and an expiration date of at least three months after your planned departure.
Source: independent.co.uk
