BUDAPEST, Hungary — Bulgaria and Romania could become full members of the European Schengen travel zone from the start of 2025, Hungarian officials announced on Friday.

The two Balkan countries joined the European Union in 2007 but were only integrated into the border-free Schengen zone in March, when border controls were put in place. withdrawn from sea and air transport. Land border controls have remained in place due to opposition mainly from Austria, which has long blocked the two countries’ entry into the Schengen area due to illegal immigration concerns.

But following a meeting of interior ministers from Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania on Friday in Budapest, Austria lifted its opposition, paving the way for a final decision at a summit of interior ministers. EU interior in December.

Hungarian Interior Minister Sándor Pintér said Friday that Romania and Bulgaria, which both border countries outside the EU, were now “on the verge of becoming full members of the EU.” Schengen area. He added that there was a “clear opportunity” to finalize the process by the end of the year and that the countries should jointly send at least 100 border guards to the Bulgaria-Turkey border.

European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, who was also present at the meeting, said in a video published on Schengen, and I I am very happy today.

The Schengen Area was established in 1985. Before the partial membership of Bulgaria and Romania, it included 23 of the 27 EU member countries, as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Around 3.5 million people cross an internal border every day.

Ursula von der Leyen, head of the EU executive commission, wrote on X that the two neighboring countries “fully belong to the Schengen area.”

“I welcome the positive results of today’s informal discussions in Budapest… May the Schengen area become stronger in 2025,” she said.