The decision to include Sofia and Bucharest as full Schengen members has been clear for several days, when the government Austria announced withdrawing his veto.
On Thursday it happened formal confirmation membership. The proposal was passed by the countries' interior ministers European Union. The changes will enter into force on January 1, 2025.
Schengen. Important decision in Brussels, two countries are entering the zone
– Historic (day – ed.) for the entire Schengen area, but especially for ours Romanian and Bulgarian partnerswho have been striving for this for years – said w Brussels head of Polish Ministry of Interior and Administration Tomasz Siemoniak.
The status of both countries was so far limited (the necessary documents were not needed at air and sea crossings – ed.), and border controls were in force at Romanian and Bulgarian land borders.
Schengen area. 29 countries without border controls
The Schengen area was established by the 1985 agreement. Individual members have been joining the agreement since 1995. Poland joined three years after joining the EU, i.e in 2007.
Strefa Schengen is associated with European Unionalmost all member states of this organization belong to it.