The long-awaited accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Area will take place on March 1st, 2024. The countries have been awaiting this event since 2011.
Currently, the regime will apply to air and sea border controls. The procedure for crossing land borders with other Schengen countries remains unchanged for now, but this issue will be discussed throughout 2024.
It is worth reminding that currently the Schengen Area comprises 27 member countries, which joined the agreement signed in 1985 in the village of Schengen (Luxembourg). Border control is only carried out at the external borders of the Schengen Area, while it is absent between participating countries, greatly simplifying life and logistics. With the accession of Bulgaria and Romania, the area of the Schengen Area will increase to 4.5 million square kilometers and will cover a population of 450 million people. Their accession will promote the development of travel, trade, and tourism, as well as further contribute to the consolidation of the internal market.
