site.btaEuropean Commission, Parliament Leaders Welcome Positive Outcome of Informal Schengen Meeting in Budapest

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the positive outcome of informal discussions in Budapest on Friday, following the meeting of the interior ministers of Bulgaria, Romania, Austria, and Hungary in Budapest. “Bulgaria and Romania belong fully to the Schengen area. Removing internal controls at land borders is the last hurdle. The EU Council formal decision is next. Let 2025 see Schengen become stronger,” Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on X.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola also welcomed Friday's positive development on Romania and Bulgaria fully joining the Schengen area. In her words, MEPs have led this call from day one. “A stronger Schengen means a stronger Europe. I look forward to a final decision in the coming days,” she said on X.

On December 12, the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council is expected to vote in a meeting in Brussels on the removal of checks at the land borders of Bulgaria and Romania for Schengen.

A year ago, the EU Council decided that Bulgaria and Romania would be admitted to the Schengen Area, with the first step being the removal of checks for travel by air and sea.