Bulgaria and Romania have partially joined the Schengen area
30.05.2024
Bulgaria together with Romania joined the Schengen Area by air and water
Bulgaria together with Romania joined the Schengen Area by air and water from midnight on 31March 2024. Air and sea border checks have been drop for those who travel from Bulgaria into one of the 23 EU-member states that are included in the Schengen Area and vice versa and they pass through so-called Schengen Gates at the airports. However, those who travel from Bulgaria and Romania to a third country, not included in the Schengen Area still subject to passport control at Bulgarian airports and sea-ports. The rules for issuing Schengen visas apply to both Bulgaria and Romania but the travel by land has not changed. This means that the travel of people have been liberated from and to Bulgaria while the transport of goods has not been affected greatly. The reason for Bulgaria and Romania not to fully join the Schengen Area was as a result of Austria’s concern over how the two countries manage the illegal immigration from the Middle East, Africa and Asia into Europe, as both countries are Schengen Area’s external borders with third countries. It is expected soon a further decision of the European Council to establish a date for the lifting of the checks at the land borders of Bulgaria and Romania with all Schengen Area member states.The Schengen Area covers a territory
At the moment the Schengen Area covers a territory of more than 4 million square kilometers where live more than 420 million people. Apart from EU-member states in this area are included all members of the European Free Trade Association: Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland or in the total of 27 countries. More than 3.5 million people cross the internal borders of the Schengen Area each day and 1.25 million journeys have been made within the area annually. About 2 million Europeans reside in one country and work in another. All countries that have signed the agreement have taken advantage of the huge business benefits in which it has resulted.
However, not only the business has benefited by the tourism industry, the education and the student exchange and the culture turning this into one of the most successful European projects. It all started in 1985 when France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg began this intergovernmental project which has expanded enormously over the years and has become the larger free travel area in the whole of the world.
A small village in Luxembourg on the border with France and Germany called Schengen gave the name of this project and there the Schengen Agreement in 1985 and the Schengen Convention in 1990 were signed. 
