site.btaTourists Will Immediately Feel Effect of Abolition of Border Controls at Ruse Checkpoint, Says Regional Governor

Measures for border and customs control at Ruse after the full entry of Bulgaria and Romania into Schengen were discussed during a working meeting Wednesday, said Ruse Regional Governor Dragomir Draganov.

The participants of the meeting also included Deputy Regional Governor Georgi Georgiev, Ruse Deputy Mayor Dimitar Nedev, Director of the Regional Directorate of the Interior Ministry Commissioner Nikolay Kozhuharov, Director of the Border Police Regional Directorate Dimitar Chorbadzhiev, and Rosen Ivanov, Deputy Director of the Territorial Directorate of the Customs Agency in Ruse.

From the meeting it became clear that fears about the continuation of border control in its current form between Bulgaria and Romania are groundless.

The effect of the abolition of border control at internal land borders will be felt by tourists immediately after January 1, 2025, the participants stated. Cars will be able to pass freely through the Danube Bridge checkpoint near Ruse, without having to stop for border checks. However, a small number of cars will be subject to random checks, which will be determined using the risk analysis method, they noted.

It was pointed out that the measures regarding freight traffic for the first six months of 2025 also exist at borders of other Schengen countries, such as Germany and France. This in no way hinders the free movement that the Schengen area provides. The final abolition of border controls for heavy goods traffic is expected to happen by the end of June 2025.

The participants recalled that the toll fee for crossing the bridge will remain, adding that the toll can be paid at the counters at the bridge, as well as in advance online. "This option applies to passenger cars and buses up to 3.5 tons, and there are plans for online payment options for trucks as well at a later stage," it was noted during the meeting.