Romania and Bulgaria Move Closer to Full Schengen Membership

EU interior ministers signal progress toward lifting land border checks, with a final decision expected in December.

Romania and Bulgaria, EU members since 2007, are nearing full Schengen Area membership after years of delays over migration concerns.
Austria, previously a major opponent, has softened its stance following significant reductions in irregular migration along the Western Balkan route.
Interior ministers from Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria agreed to propose lifting land border checks, contingent on continued migration control efforts.
A final decision on full Schengen membership is anticipated during the EU interior ministers' meeting on December 12, with January 1, 2025, as a potential start date for land border integration.
Partial Schengen membership, granted earlier this year for air and maritime borders, has already benefited Romania and Bulgaria economically, and full accession is expected to further boost growth.