Schengen Area

Citizens of European Union members Romania and Bulgaria will no longer need a passport from March 31, 2024 to travel by air or sea to most other EU countries as well as Norway and Switzerland, the council of EU governments said on Saturday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Mariya Gabriel, expressed gratitude to the collective efforts that propelled Bulgaria into the Schengen agreement for air and sea borders. Highlighting Bulgaria's pivotal role in safeguarding the European Union's external boundaries, Gabriel emphasized the country's robust border control system, reinforcing EU security.

Bulgaria's impending entry into the Schengen zone through air and sea borders from March 2024 has been met with widespread acclaim, signaling a remarkable stride in European integration. Amidst this pivotal development, leaders have offered diverse perspectives on the momentous decision, highlighting its profound significance for the nation's future within the European landscape.

In a momentous announcement on December 30, the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU confirmed Bulgaria and Romania's entrance into the Schengen area through air and sea routes, effective March 31, 2024. This landmark decision, made unanimously via written procedure, signals a significant step toward streamlined travel between these nations and Schengen member states.

Austria's stipulations for entry into the Schengen zone have sparked fierce criticism from opposition parties in Bulgaria, citing concerns of transforming the nation into a large refugee hub.

According to Romanian daily Adevarul, negotiations for Romania's full accession to the Schengen area are slated for the latter half of 2024, as revealed by undisclosed political sources.

UPDATE: The European Commission and Bulgaria confirmed that there is no obligation to accept additional refugees. Read more about this new information here.

In response to Bulgaria and Romania's reactions regarding their impending partial entry into the Schengen area, Austria's Ministry of the Interior has issued a statement affirming that negotiations regarding 'air Schengen' with Sofia and Bucharest are ongoing.

Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov affirmed that no additional prerequisites have been stipulated for Bulgaria's entry into the Schengen area from March via air and sea routes.

Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov addressed Bulgaria's ongoing negotiations for Schengen accession during a detailed briefing, shedding light on the status of discussions regarding the inclusion of land borders, confirming the absence of specified timelines in negotiations with key partners.