site.btaEC Vice-President Schinas Expects Progress on Bulgaria, Romania’s Entry in Schengen by Land by Early 2025

I expect a decision on Bulgaria and Romania being able to join the Schengen area by land after the European Parliament elections, European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas told BTA in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Schinas said progress on the issue should be expected in late 2024 or early 2025.

"I think what Bulgaria and Romania have done in terms of joining Schengen has exceeded what was expected of them," he noted.

The decisions taken for Bulgaria and Romania's accession to the Schengen area represent an important step and there will be clear results in just a few weeks’ time - at the end of March (when air and sea travel to and from Bulgaria and Romania and other Schengen member states will not require passport control), Schinas added.

European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson told BTA that as of March 31, Bulgaria and Romania will be full members of the Schengen area (at end-2023 Bulgaria entered Schengen by air and sea only).

"It remains a top priority for me that border control between Bulgaria and Romania and between the rest of the member states is resolved before the end of my mandate (autumn 2024)," Johansson added.