Two more countries could potentially become full members of the Schengen area

The European Commission has confirmed that both Romania and Bulgaria fully meet the criteria to join the Schengen area.

From March 2024, Romania and Bulgaria have been approved to partially join the Schengen area after reaching an agreement with Austria. (Source: Reuters)

On November 22, Hungary confirmed that Romania and Bulgaria could become full members of the Schengen free travel area in January 2025.

The final decision will be adopted at the European Union (EU) Home Affairs Ministers' Conference in December.

Previously, from March 2024, these two countries were approved to join part of the Schengen area after reaching an agreement with Austria. Currently, air and sea checks with 27 EU member states have been abolished, while negotiations on land entry are still ongoing in 2024.

A security package will be presented at the EU interior ministers' meeting on December 11, according to Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter. The package includes plans to deploy at least 100 border guards to protect the border between Bulgaria and Türkiye.

The European Commission (EC), after a thorough investigation, has confirmed that both Romania and Bulgaria fully meet the criteria to join the Schengen area.

Romania also cited figures from the European Border Agency (Frontex) showing that illegal immigrants mainly enter the EU via the Western Balkans route, not through Romania.

The Schengen area currently includes 27 full member states, with no border controls between them: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/them-hai-quoc-gia-co-the-co-the-tro-thanh-vien-day-du-cua-khu-vuc-schengen-294803.html