EU Agrees Full Schengen Accession for Romania, Bulgaria

Facts

• The European Council has approved Romania and Bulgaria's full membership in the Schengen Area, with land border controls set to be lifted starting Jan. 1, marking the end of a process that began in 2011.^[1][2]
• The decision came after Austria lifted its veto in December 2023 after it had demanded progress in stopping illegal migration through its border with Hungary.^[3][4]
• Both countries joined the Schengen Area partially in March this year when air and maritime border checks were eliminated, but land border controls remained in place.^[4][5]
• The expansion will temporarily maintain border checks between Hungary and Romania as well as Romania and Bulgaria for at least six months, citing the need to prevent security threats and manage migration patterns.^[2][5]
• The Schengen Area, established in 1985, is the world's largest free travel zone, encompassing 29 countries and approximately 400M people prior to Romania and Bulgaria's entry.^[6]
• The decision leaves Cyprus and Ireland as the only EU member states outside the Schengen Area, and comes 17 years since Romania and Bulgaria first joined the bloc.^[3][7]

Sources: ^[1]Consilium (a), ^[2]EuroNews, ^[3]Balkan Insight, ^[4]Reuters, ^[5]Euractiv, ^[6]Consilium (b) and ^[7]BBC News.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Euractiv and The Local. The accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Area is a pivotal step for the EU. The decision will boost trade, tourism, and economic growth while symbolizing European unity and solidarity. Having met all Schengen criteria, their inclusion strengthens the EU’s cohesion and competitiveness, reinforcing its commitment to free movement. This long-overdue decision marks a transformative moment for Europe.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by GIS Reports and The European Conservative. Further entry into the Schengen area without dealing with corruption, weak rule-of-law, and inadequate border control undermines the principle of secure, borderless travel. With rising migration challenges, including Kosovo's visa-free status, expanding Schengen prematurely could worsen security and migration issues, undermining the system's credibility. Effective border management and rule of law should be prerequisites for joining the Schengen Area.