Romania and Bulgaria may become full members of Europe's borderless Schengen travel zone in January 2025, Hungary said on Friday, adding a final decision would be made at next month's meeting of EU interior ministers.
Romania and Bulgaria may become full members of Europe's borderless Schengen travel zone in January 2025, Hungary said on Friday, adding a final decision would be made at next month's meeting of EU interior ministers.
Romania and Bulgaria, both European Union and NATO members, partly joined Schengen in March, after an agreement with Austria which initially opposed their joining on the grounds they needed to do more to prevent illegal immigration.
While air and maritime border checks between them and the other 27 countries in the travel zone were lifted, negotiations with Austria over land entry have continued through 2024.
"The two countries have made significant steps to gain full membership," Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter told a news conference after talks with his Romanian, Bulgarian and Austrian counterparts.
"We are...one step closer to Bulgaria and Romania becoming full members of Schengen."
Pinter said a package of security measures would be presented at a meeting of EU interior ministers on Dec. 11, including arrangements for at least 100 border guards to protect the border between Turkey and Bulgaria.
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced on Monday that the two countries would join the Schengen area next year but described the Budapest meeting, where the four interior ministers would agree the final document, as "crucial".
Ciolacu said the Dutch parliament - which has opposed Bulgaria's joining - would also need to approve the document.
Romania and Bulgaria are on major routes for the illegal trade in arms and drugs as well as human trafficking, but the European Commission said after a thorough investigation they met all Schengen requirements.
Romania has described Austrian opposition as unjustified, citing data from border agency Frontex showing illegal migrants have mainly entered the EU from the Western Balkans, not Romania.
Kazakhstan and Bulgaria expand trade and investment ties as bilateral trade surges, with KazMunayGas eyeing a Bulgarian refinery acquisition.
On an unusually warm January day in northern Greece, farmer Dimitris Marinoglou plowed his field, filled with anxiety. He feared that the water flowing from Bulgaria for decades, sustaining his family's crops, might be cut off this summer.
Bulgaria’s parliament has approved a new government led by Rosen Zhelyazkov, concluding months of negotiations following the October snap election. Zhelyazkov committed to strengthening the rule of law, enhancing economic stability, and advancing eurozone accession, underscoring the need
Azerbaijan has temporarily halted its contracted natural gas supply to Bulgaria following a technical issue at BP's Alpha platform in the Shah Deniz gas field.
Bulgaria and Romania officially join the Schengen Area, marking the end of years of negotiations and enabling borderless travel within the EU.
Vatican City, February 17, 2025 – Pope Francis remains in critical condition after suffering a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen, according to a statement from the Vatican.
Cupertino, CA, February 17, 2025 – Apple today released the first developer beta for iOS 18.4, unveiling a new “Priority Notifications” feature powered by Apple Intelligence.
BERLIN, Feb 22 (Reuters) - NATO is planning to build a pipeline system from Germany to Poland and the Czech Republic to ensure a rapid supply of jet fuel for fighter aircraft in the event of a war with Russia, weekly German magazine Der Spiegel reported.
Catholic faithful gathered in Vatican City on Saturday (February 22) to pray for Pope Francis as he continues receiving treatment for double pneumonia. Concerns over his health persist, though doctors assure there is no immediate life-threatening risk.
Menlo Park, CA, February 17, 2025 – Newly unsealed court documents from the case Kadrey v. Meta shed light on internal discussions among Meta employees about the use of copyrighted materials to train the company’s artificial intelligence models.
A tragic crowd crush at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night left 18 dead and 10 injured as thousands of people, many heading to the Kumbh Mela festival, attempted to board delayed trains. The incident highlights the ongoing risks of overcrowding at public transportation hubs in India.
A Delta Air Lines regional jet flipped upside down upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday, injuring 18 people. Officials are investigating whether strong winds and snow played a role in the incident.
Berlin, February 21, 2025 – German citizens will head to the polls on Sunday, February 23, for a snap general election after the coalition government collapsed late last year.
Vatican City, February 17, 2025 – Pope Francis remains in critical condition after suffering a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen, according to a statement from the Vatican.
BERLIN, Feb 22 (Reuters) - NATO is planning to build a pipeline system from Germany to Poland and the Czech Republic to ensure a rapid supply of jet fuel for fighter aircraft in the event of a war with Russia, weekly German magazine Der Spiegel reported.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is asking Congress for nearly $40 billion in disaster funding to help Los Angeles recover and rebuild areas scorched by last month's devastating wildfires, the Washington Post reported on Friday citing a letter.
A second meeting between representatives of Russia and the United States is planned for the next two weeks, the RIA state news agency reported on Saturday, citing Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.
Washington, D.C., February 21, 2025 – U.S. negotiators have reportedly raised the possibility of cutting Ukraine’s access to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service unless Kyiv reaches an agreement to grant the United States greater access to its critical minerals.
Vatican City, February 17, 2025 – Pope Francis remains in critical condition after suffering a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen, according to a statement from the Vatican.
Cupertino, CA, February 17, 2025 – Apple today released the first developer beta for iOS 18.4, unveiling a new “Priority Notifications” feature powered by Apple Intelligence.
BERLIN, Feb 22 (Reuters) - NATO is planning to build a pipeline system from Germany to Poland and the Czech Republic to ensure a rapid supply of jet fuel for fighter aircraft in the event of a war with Russia, weekly German magazine Der Spiegel reported.
Catholic faithful gathered in Vatican City on Saturday (February 22) to pray for Pope Francis as he continues receiving treatment for double pneumonia. Concerns over his health persist, though doctors assure there is no immediate life-threatening risk.
Menlo Park, CA, February 17, 2025 – Newly unsealed court documents from the case Kadrey v. Meta shed light on internal discussions among Meta employees about the use of copyrighted materials to train the company’s artificial intelligence models.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment