On January 1, Romania and Bulgaria officially became part of the Schengen area. This was reported by AFP News, according to UNN.
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This is the completion of the integration process, which was supported by the European Union in mid-December, when all EU countries unanimously decided to expand the zone.
Since the beginning of spring 2025, Romania and Bulgaria have been able to accept travelers without border controls on air and sea routes from other Schengen countries. However, as of January 1, passport checks at land borders have also been canceled, which will greatly simplify travel between the countries.
The accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area means that citizens of these countries now have access to all the benefits of the free movement area, including the ability to travel without border checks within the European Union.