In a Breakthrough for Free Movement, EU Set to Lift Land Border Controls with Bulgaria and Romania
In a significant development, the Council of the EU’s interior ministers, convening in Brussels on January 12, agreed to lift person control at the land borders with Bulgaria and Romania. The move is set to further boost the free movement of people within the Schengen Area, the world’s largest free travel zone.
Bulgaria and Romania joined the European Union in 2007, but their full integration into the Schengen Area was delayed due to lingering concerns about border controls and organized crime. While air and sea border controls were abolished in March 2011, land border controls remained in place, a remnant of the transitional measures initially introduced when the two countries joined the EU.
Austrian resistance to their inclusion in the Schengen Zone had been a key barrier to the lifting of these controls. Seeking to curb illegal immigration, Austria had long opposed the move. However, in a major shift, Austria withdrew its objections in November 2021, paving the way for the decision reached today.
The upcoming abolition of land border controls between Bulgaria, Romania, and the rest of the Schengen Area will simplify travel for millions of citizens and boost business across the region. It also marks a crucial step in the EU’s ongoing effort to strengthen internal security while promoting freedom of movement.
