Bulgaria and Romania partly join Schengen zone with air and sea borders lifted

Bulgaria and Romania have been partly included in the Schengen zone. From 31 March, controls will be lifted at air and sea borders. The European Commission reported this in a press release on Saturday evening. Negotiations on lifting land border controls will continue in 2024.

The Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU carried out the final agreement to lift air and sea borders late on Saturday. Come Monday, Belgium will take over the Presidency of the Council of the EU.

“Today is a historic moment for Bulgaria and Romania,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “From March, their citizens will be able to cross international sea and air borders without checks.”

The Schengen zone currently includes 27 countries and extends over an area of more than 4 million square kilometres, with a population of almost 420 million people. With Romania and Bulgaria added, the Schengen zone would grow to 4.5 million square kilometres and 450 million people.

^{Ursula von der Leyen ©IMAGO}

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