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.
On the sidelines of the Istanbul Natural Resources Summit, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy, Parviz Shahbazov, held bilateral meetings with Bulgarian Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov and Romanian Energy Minister Sebastian-Ioan Burduja.
TF FEST 2025 opened Thursday in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, bringing together 116 student-run training companies from Bulgaria, Serbia, and Montenegro to showcase skills, compete, and connect with real businesses in a dynamic, interactive environment.
Bulgaria is stepping up preparations to host the Ninth Global Conference on Wine Tourism this autumn in Plovdiv, with Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh leading a series of high-level meetings to finalize venues and partnerships.
Bulgaria has seen a sharp rise in diseases transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes, including Lyme disease and West Nile fever, with health authorities warning of an urgent need for stricter pest control measures.
Shell has signed a deal with Bulgaria to explore 4,000 sq km in the Black Sea for oil and gas, as Sofia seeks to diversify energy sources. The move follows a similar agreement with OMV Petrom and NewMed Energy last month.
In a high‑stakes May 18 runoff, nationalist George Simion and centrist Nicușor Dan clash in a tight race that could steer Romania’s political and European trajectory for years to come.
On May 19, London and Brussels are set to kick off their first annual summit, prioritizing a new UK–EU defense and security pact even as negotiations continue with Washington over tariff relief on British steel, cars and aerospace components.
Archer Aviation’s four‑seat “Midnight” electric air taxi will shuttle fans, VIPs and support teams between major LA28 venues—SoFi Stadium, the Coliseum, LAX and more—in 10–20 minute hops, marking the first use of eVTOLs at any Olympic Games.
On May 16, 2025, Tirana, Albania, hosts the sixth European Political Community (EPC) Summit. Under the theme "A New Europe in a New World: Unity – Cooperation
A car accident outside RCDE Stadium in Barcelona resulted in 13 injuries just before the La Liga match between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona. Authorities confirmed the incident was accidental, and the driver has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war in Gaza will not stop until Hamas is destroyed, following the release of US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 15, with discussions reportedly focusing on upcoming peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul.
Qatar signed a landmark agreement with U.S. aerospace giant Boeing on Wednesday to acquire 160 aircraft for Qatar Airways, a deal valued at $200 billion. The signing took place in Doha during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ukrainian and Russian delegations meet behind closed doors at Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace at 10:00 local time today to explore security guarantees, territorial integrity and a possible ceasefire.
In a high‑stakes May 18 runoff, nationalist George Simion and centrist Nicușor Dan clash in a tight race that could steer Romania’s political and European trajectory for years to come.
On May 19, London and Brussels are set to kick off their first annual summit, prioritizing a new UK–EU defense and security pact even as negotiations continue with Washington over tariff relief on British steel, cars and aerospace components.
Archer Aviation’s four‑seat “Midnight” electric air taxi will shuttle fans, VIPs and support teams between major LA28 venues—SoFi Stadium, the Coliseum, LAX and more—in 10–20 minute hops, marking the first use of eVTOLs at any Olympic Games.
On May 16, 2025, Tirana, Albania, hosts the sixth European Political Community (EPC) Summit. Under the theme "A New Europe in a New World: Unity – Cooperation
A car accident outside RCDE Stadium in Barcelona resulted in 13 injuries just before the La Liga match between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona. Authorities confirmed the incident was accidental, and the driver has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.
In a high‑stakes May 18 runoff, nationalist George Simion and centrist Nicușor Dan clash in a tight race that could steer Romania’s political and European trajectory for years to come.
On May 19, London and Brussels are set to kick off their first annual summit, prioritizing a new UK–EU defense and security pact even as negotiations continue with Washington over tariff relief on British steel, cars and aerospace components.
Archer Aviation’s four‑seat “Midnight” electric air taxi will shuttle fans, VIPs and support teams between major LA28 venues—SoFi Stadium, the Coliseum, LAX and more—in 10–20 minute hops, marking the first use of eVTOLs at any Olympic Games.
On May 16, 2025, Tirana, Albania, hosts the sixth European Political Community (EPC) Summit. Under the theme "A New Europe in a New World: Unity – Cooperation
A car accident outside RCDE Stadium in Barcelona resulted in 13 injuries just before the La Liga match between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona. Authorities confirmed the incident was accidental, and the driver has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.
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