Bulgaria and Romania were included in Schengen

After Bulgaria and Romania has become members of the European

Union (EU) at the beginning of 2007, significant progress was made in their goal of joining the Schengen region, which they had been waiting for years. It was reported that the two countries will be included in Schengen by sea and air as of March 31, 2024.

In the statement made by the EU Council, it was noted that the member countries unanimously agreed to remove border controls at sea and air routes with Bulgaria and Romania as of March 31, but a new decision was needed to remove controls at land borders.

Bulgaria and Romania were last blocked by the Netherlands, Hungary and Austria regarding their participation in Schengen.

Hungary warned Bulgaria, which wanted to increase the transit fee it applied to Russian natural gas reaching its country via the Turkish pipeline, to step back, otherwise it would prevent its entry into the Schengen area. Thereupon, the Sofia administration abandoned its plan to make legal regulations to impose additional transit fees on Russian gas.

The Netherlands, which has been resisting the two countries’ participation in Schengen for a long time on grounds such as immigration and corruption, withdrew its objection in midDecember, citing the fulfillment of the conditions it has requested.

Finally, Bulgaria and Romania, who concentrated on negotiations with Austria, announced on December 28 that an agreement had been reached on participation by sea and air, and that negotiations would continue for participation by land.

There are no border controls, with exceptions, in the Schengen area, which includes 23 EU members, excluding Bulgaria, Romania, Ireland and Greek Cyprus, as well as Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.