Romania and Bulgaria's Schengen Accession

Tags: International News

On March 31, Romania and Bulgaria formally joined, at least partially, Europe's visa-free Schengen travel area.

An Overview of the News

Statements from political leaders:

• Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov called the event a "big victory" for Bulgaria, emphasizing its historical significance.

• Despite his resignation, Denkov remains in office, highlighting the achievement as Bulgaria's "greatest success" since joining the EU.

• Deputy Prime Minister Maria Gabriel echoed this sentiment, calling it a "historic moment" with benefits for various sectors.

• Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu qualified the achievement with plans for full Schengen accession by the end of the year.

European Commission Perspective

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the development as a "great success" for both countries and a historic moment for the Schengen area.

• They emphasized the shared goal of building a stronger, more united Europe.

Implications and Challenges

• Free movement for flights and boats is allowed, land routes are restricted due to Austrian objections.

• Both countries aim to open land borders by the end of 2024, awaiting the opportune political moment for full integration.

• The Schengen area, established in 1985, covers 29 European countries and allows more than 400 million people to travel freely without internal border controls.

Reactions and Concerns

• While welcome, ongoing border checks on the roads have caused frustration among truck drivers, leading to calls for urgent measures for full Schengen integration.

• Long wait times at the border have caused significant financial losses to Romanian carriers, leading to calls for faster progress.

• Bulgarian businesses also express disappointment at the slow progress, especially concerning land transport.

Romania:

• Southeastern European country.

• Known for the forests of Transylvania and the Carpathian Mountains.

• It includes well-preserved medieval cities such as Sighisoara.

• Famous for fortified churches and castles, including Bran Castle associated with Dracula.

• Capital: Bucharest, home of the communist-era Palatul Parlamentului government building.

Bulgaria:

• The Balkan nation with diverse geography.

• It includes the Black Sea coast, the mountainous interior and rivers such as the Danube.

• Cultural diversity with influences from Greek, Slavic, Ottoman and Persian civilizations.

• Capital city: Sofia, located at the base of Mount Vitosha, dates back to the 5th century BC.