Romania and Bulgaria are expected to become full members of the Schengen area as early as January 2025, according to Hungarian officials. This development marks the culmination of years of partial inclusion, since the two Balkan countries, which joined the European Union in 2007, only obtained limited access to the Schengen area in March 2023.

Ursula von der Leyen, head of the EU executive commission, said on Twitter that the last remaining obstacles would be removed and Romania and Bulgaria would “fully belong to the Schengen area.”

Bulgaria and Romania fully belong to the Schengen area.

The removal of internal controls at land borders constitutes the last obstacle.

I welcome the positive results of today’s informal discussions in Budapest.

@EUCouncil the formal decision comes next.

Let’s make a stronger Schengen area by 2025. pic.twitter.com/zHJrg9HzFw

– Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) November 22, 2024

While air and sea border controls were lifted, land borders remained subject to restrictions due to concerns about illegal immigration, particularly from Austria, which previously blocked their entry into the area.

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However, following recent discussions in Budapest between the interior ministers of Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania, Austria has now withdrawn its opposition. The move paves the way for a final decision on full membership to be taken by EU interior ministers in December 2024.

Hungarian Interior Minister Sándor Pintér confirmed that Romania and Bulgaria are “one step closer” to full membership. A key aspect of this progress will be the deployment of at least 100 border guards along the Bulgaria-Turkey border.

This progress represents a major step in the Schengen expansion process. EU leaders, including Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, celebrated the development, declaring that Romania and Bulgaria “now fully belong” to the Schengen area. Johansson expressed approval of the progress, calling it a significant step toward granting citizens of both countries full freedom of movement.