Bulgaria and Romania also joined the Schengen area

According to the report of the international group Tasnim news agency, quoted by the German publication “D Site”, the countries Romania and Bulgaria officially joined the Schengen area this Sunday. This eliminates the need for personal checks at airports and ports in federal states. The EU had already agreed on this step at the end of December. However, anyone traveling to Romania or Bulgaria by car or train will be screened for now. A decision on the abolition of land border controls will be taken at a later date.

The Schengen area guarantees unrestricted movement of citizens within Europe. The region now includes 25 of the 27 EU member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. All EU member states will become full members of the Schengen area as soon as they are ready – this is both a right and an obligation. New members can only be accepted unanimously.

Romania and Bulgaria, which previously joined the EU in 2007, have been waiting for this decision since 2011. The acceptance of these two countries initially failed due to Austrian resistance. Vienna justified this opposition by saying that a large number of unregistered immigrants are entering the country from Romania and Bulgaria.

Thus, the Schengen area now has two new members: Bulgaria and Romania. This eliminates the need for regular border control when entering the country. Currently, the rules only apply to airports and seaports.

However, Austria’s veto means that the new status will not apply to land routes, as Vienna is concerned that the decision lead to a possible influx of refugees from these countries. However, the abolition of control in the air and sea borders of these two countries can have a significant symbolic value.

Stephen Popescu, a foreign policy analyst, said in a conversation with AFP: “Admission to Schengen is a It is an important step for Bulgaria and Romania and can be considered as a symbol of belonging to the European Union. Previously, every Romanian or Bulgarian who had to travel on a separate route from other European citizens felt that he was treated differently. “This is a great achievement for both countries and a historic moment for the Schengen Area, the largest free movement area in the world,” the official said. Together, we are building a stronger and more united Europe for all our citizens.”

The Romanian government announced that Schengen rules would apply at four seaports and 17 airports, with the country’s Otopeni airport near the capital Bucharest. , will serve as the largest hub for Schengen flights.

The Schengen area now includes all EU member states except Ireland and Cyprus. Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are also in this region. Normally there are no border controls in the Schengen area – except in situations of special threat.

Although all of Germany’s neighboring countries belong to the Schengen area, Germany has repeatedly implemented controls at some borders. Is. Germany’s Federal Interior Minister Nancy Pfizer has stated that this is necessary to stop the unscrupulous trade of smugglers and limit illegal immigration. Border controls in the Schengen area must be approved by the EU Commission.

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