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Title: Bulgaria Fully Joins the Schengen Area: Barriers to Lift Ahead of Summer

After 18 years of EU membership and 13 years since Bulgaria and Romania received the green light from the European Commission, the wait is finally over. Bulgaria is officially a full member of the Schengen Area, with border controls set to be phased out. This milestone will bring significant changes, particularly for the transport sector, including both passenger and freight services.

Starting this summer, Bulgarian citizens will be able to travel freely across the entire European Union without needing to pass through border controls. However, the Bulgarian-Rumanian border will maintain partial controls until the end of June 2024.

Impact on Transportation

The removal of border controls will have a substantial impact on the transportation sector. It will facilitate smoother flows of both passengers and goods, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing travel times. This change is particularly welcome news for businesses that rely on cross-border trade, as well as for individuals traveling for leisure or business purposes.

Looking Ahead

Bulgaria’s full integration into the Schengen Area is a significant achievement that has been a long time coming. As the country continues to develop and strengthen its ties with other EU member states, we can expect to see even more benefits in the coming years.

With the summer travel season just around the corner, Bulgarian citizens and businesses can look forward to enjoying the ease and convenience of borderless travel within the Schengen Area. This change not only simplifies travel but also underscores Bulgaria’s commitment to closer European integration and its role as a важная составная часть economies and cultures of the broader region.

In the DW of borders: Greece welcomes Bulgaria‘s full Schengen integration

Greece is enthusiastically preparing for Bulgaria’s full accession to the Schengen Area, with central Greek media comprehensively reporting on the benefits and changes that lie ahead starting January 1st.

Regional television Stations and newspapers are buzzing with coverage from border crossings, anticipating the relaxed travel environment Marking Bulgaria’s inclusion in the Schengen Zone.

Todoros Topsiadis, Prefect of Northern Greece, has been vocal about the significant trade opportunities this integration presents, not just between Greece and Bulgaria but also with other Balkan nations. Increased trade activity and investments are anticipated, while Greece could also see a boost in tourism, as hurdles to travel are removed.

Tourism agencies have noted a surge in New Year’s Eve bookings to Bulgaria from Greece, surpassing the holiday rush previously seen over Christmas. Ski resorts remain highly popular among Greeks, while interest from Bulgarians traveling to Greece for New Year has also risen significantly. Hotels across Halkidiki are expected to be packed with Bulgarian tourists.

Stay tuned for more updates on this critical development and follow us on Google News Showcase for daily news briefs.

Rumania to Shutter Over 30 Border Checkpoints by 2025; Enhanced Security and Schengen Integration Ahead

Rumania is gearing up to close more than 30 border checkpoints by January 1, 2025, marking its entry into the Schengen Area by land. This is according to a government resolution published on the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ website for public consultation, as reported by the Romanian "Economedia".

The initiative, driven by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, emphasizes the urgent need to implement measures outlined in the European Union Council’s December 12, 2024 decision, which eliminates controls on persons at internal land borders between Bulgaria and Hungary, as well as between Romania and Bulgaria, starting January 1, 2025.

The closures will predominantly affect border checkpoints with Hungary, followed by those with Bulgaria. Rationale behind the closures includes the integration of Schengen rules and the necessity to strengthen public order and security, given Romania’s current battles with diverse illegal migration and its strategic location as a transit point from East to West.

"The removal of internal border controls implies the need to enhance measures to ensure public order and security, taking into account that Romania is now facing a broad spectrum of illegal migration," the document states. Transnational police cooperation is deemed crucial for addressing security threats and maintaining smooth Schengen operations.

To prevent people from bypassing authorities by simply traveling between member states, Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria will bolster their cross-border cooperation, involving joint actions like cross-border pursuits and surveillance, as well as transnational initiatives such as joint operations involving temporary deployments of border officers.

Existing equipment and infrastructure at the shuttered checkpoints will be repurposed based on operational needs or disposed of according to legal provisions. However, the Kalafat border checkpoint in Dolj County will remain operational as an international border crossing point in maritime mode.

Furthermore, in accordance with an agreement signed by Bulgaria, Romania, Austria, and Hungary’s interior ministers in early December, Bulgaria and Romania will maintain border controls for an additional six months after their Schengen accession. Meanwhile, the Bulgaria-Greece border will be free of such controls post-Schengen integration.

As Romania prepares for these significant changes, it iterates its commitment to navigating the complexities of Schengen integration and ensuring the security of its citizens and the broader European community.

NATO and EU to Partially Fund Long-Awaited Danube Bridge 3 Connecting Bulgaria and Romania

The long-anticipated Danube Bridge 3, connecting the Bulgarian city of Ruse and the Romanian city of Giurgiu, is set to receive partial funding from NATO and the European Union. This was revealed in a parliamentary Response by caretaker Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov, cited by "Sega". The project aims to integrate the Ruse-Giurgiu ferry into the military Schengen network, effectively creating Danube Bridge 3 as part of a rapid military corridor from Greece through Bulgaria to Romania.

Danube Bridge 3 and the Ruse-Giurgiu ferry will primarily serve military purposes but will also have parallel civilian use. Bulgaria has committed to prioritizing these projects for trans-European network (TEN-T) corridors, with European funding set to flow in the next programming period.

The military project’s goal is to facilitate swift and efficient movement of troops and equipment during routine activities and potential future conflicts. These new military corridors will enable rapid backup from NATO and EU resources in case of military threats to Bulgaria.

This development highlights the strategic importance of the Ruse-Giurgiu ferry link for NATO and the EU, connecting major strategic directions, especially the corridors linking Greece and Turkey with Bulgaria and Romania. Recent reports suggest that both Bulgaria and Romania are working on creating a strategic military corridor connecting key NATO cities, including Thessaloniki, Alexandroupolis, Varna, and Constanța. The latter is currently undergoing expansion to become NATO’s largest military base in Europe.

Bulgaria is set to participate in building not one, but two harmonized military corridors, further facilitating swift movement within NATO along the south-north direction.

Danube Bridge 3 May Also Accommodate High-Speed Trains

As previously reported by Money.bg, Romania is pushing ahead with plans to build a new bridge between Ruse and Giurgiu. Chevornomost Plus, a state-owned Romanian company, has announced a tender for a pre-project study valued at €14.46 million, funded by European Structural and Investment Funds. The project aims to build the third Danube bridge connecting Bulgaria and Romania, following the Vidin-Calafat and Ruse-Giurgiu bridges.

Upon completion, the new bridge will significantly boost the economic development of both countries and strengthen their integration with the EU, particularly within the Schengen Area. The project aims to connect the bridge with both road and railway networks, with the potential for a high-speed railway line linking Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania. This would stimulate job creation, attract investments, and strengthen economic ties between the three countries.

The project also holds significant military importance, further cementing the strategic role of the Danube river corridor in regional and European security.