A new era for the EU: border checks between Bulgaria and Romania end in 2025

From 1 January 2025, European Union member states plan to lift border checks on the land borders between Bulgaria and Romania, as well as at internal borders within these countries where controls had previously applied. This is stated in an official announcement from the Council of the EU.

Hungarian Interior Minister Sándor Pintér described the move as "a historic moment," noting that it strengthens EU unity and supports the free movement of people and goods. According to him, removing border controls will bring significant benefits not only to residents of Bulgaria and Romania, but to the European Union as a whole.

As a reminder, Romania and Bulgaria became EU members in 2007. However, their integration into the Schengen Area remained partial until March of this year, due to a veto imposed by several countries, including Austria. The main concerns centred on corruption and illegal migration. Austria's recent lifting of its veto paved the way for these countries to fully join the Schengen Area, removing the last restrictions on the free movement of citizens and goods across their land borders.

The Schengen Area, the world's largest area of free movement, was created in 1985 with the abolition of border checks between France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. It now covers 29 countries, including 25 of the EU's 27 member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, bringing together 420 million people. At the same time, internal border checks with Cyprus remain in place due to unresolved issues around its political situation, and Ireland stays outside the Schengen Area under its special arrangements with the UK.