Bulgaria aims to join the Schengen Area completely by the end of 2024. Authorities in Sofia are hopeful that the country’s Schengen entry will be completed shortly, particularly about land crossings.
It is worth noting that Bulgaria and Romania entered the Schengen Zone on March 31, 2024, abolishing sea and air travel restrictions. However, their partial membership means that land border controls remain in place, preventing complete integration into the Schengen Area.
A Significant Step for Schengen Expansion:
On October 10, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson and Hungary’s Interior Minister will propose to the European Union Council the elimination of land border inspections for Bulgaria and Romania.
This plan might be a key step towards completely integrating the two countries into the Schengen Zone.
Yordanka Chobanova, Head of the European Commission’s Representation in Bulgaria, stated that Bulgaria expects the European Commission to provide significant support for this action.
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Hungary Is in Favour of Complete Schengen Membership:
Hungary has also expressed support for Bulgaria and Romania’s complete Schengen membership. Hungary’s Deputy Interior Minister, Bence Retvari, stressed how crucial it is to complete this procedure by the end of 2024. He emphasized that to guarantee a seamless transition needless delays should be avoided.
Priorities and Difficulties:
- Migration Crisis: Hungary has expressed worries about the effects of irregular migration on border security.
- EU Presidency: Hungary has a major platform to promote Bulgaria’s and Romania’s Schengen membership due to its current EU presidency.
What This Signifies for Travelers?
Travelers’ lives may change if Bulgaria and Romania become full members of the Schengen Zone, especially those with Schengen visas. At the moment holders of Schengen visas are allowed unlimited air and sea travel to these nations.
They won’t need extra checks to travel freely between Bulgaria, Romania and other Schengen nations once land border restrictions are removed.
By cutting down on delays at border crossings this modification will facilitate road travel for tourists, business travelers and transportation providers. Traveling by car between Bulgaria or Romania and neighboring Schengen nations will be quicker and more seamless.
Benefits for Holders of Schengen Visas:
Travel choices for holders of Schengen visas would also increase if Bulgaria and Romania were granted full Schengen membership. With the current marine and aviation travel choices, visitors holding a valid Schengen visa would also be able to easily enter Bulgaria and Romania via land routes.
Travelers would be able to organize multi-country journeys throughout Europe more easily and without having to worry about extra border formalities.
Additionally, it would make road trips and cross-border travel between these nations and the rest of Europe more appealing. Businesses would save money and time on transportation if land border controls were eliminated which would help the commerce and logistics industries.
Conclusion:
Travelers and holders of Schengen visas should anticipate increased freedom and smoother travel around Europe as Bulgaria and Romania get closer to becoming full Schengen members. The EU’s and Hungary’s strong support raises hopes for eliminating land border controls by year’s end.
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