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Borders open: Bulgaria and Romania celebrate joining Schengen Area

Bulgaria and Romania officially became part of the Schengen Area on 1 January, ending land border checks with neighbouring EU countries.

Europe News

Romania and Bulgaria to join Schengen Area on New Year's Day

The EU voted on 12 December to lift internal land border controls with Romania and Bulgaria, allowing them to join the Schengen Area in the New Year.

Romania

Romania’s Schengen accession set to strengthen ties with Hungary

The European Commission declared Romania ready to join the Schengen area in 2011, but faced opposition from several countries. Austria, the last holdout, lifted its veto during a meeting in Budapest last month.

Travel News

What changes at the border when Romania and Bulgaria join Schengen?

It's been a rocky road to Schengen membership for both eastern European countries.

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Europe News

Romania and Bulgaria granted full Schengen membership, with one caveat

Romania and Bulgaria will become full-time members of the Schengen Area as of 1 January 2025, completing a process that dates back to 2011, when the European Commission declared both countries ready to join.

Travel News

Travelling to the EU in 2025? Get ready for its new Entry/Exit System

Within six months of its gradual rollout, every border crossing in the Schengen Area is expected to use the new EES.

Europe News

Pro-EU win masks far-right surge in Romania

Romania will join the Schengen Area in January 2025 after a 13-year wait. Pro-European parties won Romania’s recent elections, but far-right groups gained a 30% share of the vote, partly due to frustration over the delayed accession.

Europe News

Austria lifts veto on the Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria

Budapest was the stage of a major breakthrough in Schengen after Austria agreed to lifts its veto on Romania and Bulgaria's accession.

Europe News

Netherlands joins Germany in implementing extra border checks

According to the EU, member states are allowed to temporarily reintroduce controls at the bloc's internal borders in case of a serious threat, such as one to internal security.

Europe News

Austria may lift veto preventing Romania and Bulgaria joining Schengen

Austria's Interior Minister has hinted that Austria could lift its veto on full Schengen area membership for Romania and Bulgaria after improvements in border protection.

Travel News

Travellers warned of queues at borders as France ramps up checks

France’s current border controls will end on 31 October, but a new set of checks will come into effect from 1 November.

Travel News

Could the EU’s delaying of electronic border checks be a good thing?

Ylva Johansson, the EU Home Affairs commissioner, had previously said with utmost confidence that the scheme would launch in November.

Travel News

EU’s long-delayed Entry/Exit scheme could be pushed back further

EES was set to launch in 2022, but numerous setbacks have seen it delayed by two years - so far.

Europe News

Smartphone passports: EU pledges faster, smoother border checks

Digital travel credentials will be free, voluntary and less hassle, offering a more seamless and secure experience, the European Commission says.

Travel News

How long does your UK passport need to be valid for an EU trip?

Confusion over UK passport rules recently saw a passenger wrongly denied boarding.

Travel News

Is the EU’s Entry/Exit system still launching in November?

If the EES becomes operational in autumn, non-EU travellers entering the Schengen Area will have to go through new scanners at EU borders.

Europe News

Germany reinstates land border checks in much-criticised move

Germany has reinstated border checks at all land crossings on its nine borders to curb migration and tackle crime, according to officials.

Germany

Could Brussels get Germany's new border controls revoked?

The German government ordered spot passport controls at all its land borders from Monday morning, going against the EU's free movement principle.

Europe News

Netherlands to ask opt-out from EU asylum rules 'as soon as possible'

The four-party cabinet in the Netherlands has vowed to establish "the strictest asylum regime ever" to curb irregular migration.

Europe News

Neighbours slam Germany over 'unacceptable' border control measures

Poland has deemed Germany's decision to implement border controls "unacceptable," while Austria has announced that it will not accept any migrants who are turned back.