Here is the 10 Key Points about Schengen Visa Update: Two More European Countries to Visit in 2025:
- Full Membership by January 2025: Romania and Bulgaria are set to gain full access to the Schengen Area by early 2025, following Austria’s decision to lift its opposition.
- Breakthrough Agreement: The decision was reached during ministerial discussions involving Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania in Budapest.
- Years of Partial Inclusion: Despite joining the EU in 2007, Romania and Bulgaria only gained partial Schengen access in March 2023, allowing unrestricted air and maritime travel but retaining land border checks.
- Concerns Over Migration Resolved: Austria had previously blocked their full membership due to concerns over illegal migration but has now agreed to their inclusion after enhanced border security measures were proposed.
- Enhanced Border Security: Plans include deploying at least 100 border guards to strengthen Bulgaria’s border with Turkey.
- Upcoming Decision: EU interior ministers are expected to formalize the decision in December 2024.
- EU Leadership Support: Key EU officials, including Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, have welcomed the move as a step toward greater integration.
- Seamless Travel for Schengen Visa Holders: Starting January 2025, travelers with Schengen visas can visit Romania and Bulgaria without additional border checks, expanding the zone’s accessibility.
- Boost to Tourism and Trade: The inclusion of Romania and Bulgaria is expected to simplify cross-border travel, enhance tourism, and foster economic opportunities within the region.
- Expansion of the Schengen Zone: The Schengen Area, currently encompassing 23 EU member states and four non-EU countries, will grow further with the integration of these two Balkan nations.
Romania and Bulgaria Set to Join Schengen Area Fully by January 2025
Romania and Bulgaria are poised to achieve full membership in the Schengen Area by early 2025, following Austria’s decision to lift its longstanding opposition. The breakthrough came during ministerial discussions in Budapest, marking a pivotal moment in the expansion of Europe’s border-free travel zone.
Since joining the European Union in 2007, Romania and Bulgaria have faced years of partial inclusion in the Schengen Area. While air and maritime border checks were removed in March 2023, restrictions at land borders remained due to concerns over illegal migration, primarily raised by Austria.
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The recent agreement between Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania’s interior ministers resolves these concerns, clearing the way for EU interior ministers to make a final decision in December 2024. Hungarian Interior Minister Sándor Pintér described the development as a crucial step, emphasizing the planned deployment of 100 additional border guards along Bulgaria’s border with Turkey to strengthen security.
EU leaders, including Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, praised the progress. Johansson hailed the agreement as a significant step toward freedom for Romanian and Bulgarian citizens, while von der Leyen affirmed that both nations “fully belong” in the Schengen Area.
For travelers, this expansion means Romania and Bulgaria will join the list of countries accessible with a Schengen visa. Starting January 2025, visitors will be able to travel freely between these countries and other Schengen members without undergoing additional border checks.
The Schengen Area currently comprises 23 EU member states, along with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, facilitating unrestricted movement for millions of people daily. With Romania and Bulgaria’s integration, the zone will become even more accessible, boosting tourism, trade, and cross-border connectivity across Europe.
This development is a landmark in the Schengen Area’s history, underlining the EU’s commitment to greater unity and free movement within the region.
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