Romania and Bulgaria have reached agreements with Austria to join the Schengen Zone with open borders by air and sea starting from March 2024, while negotiations regarding land borders will continue into the following year. Reuters reported this information citing the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
“As of March, Romanians will be able to enjoy the benefits of the Schengen Zone on air and sea routes,” said Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. “I am confident that in 2024, we will conclude negotiations regarding land borders.”
Austria had opposed the expansion of the visa-free Schengen Zone to include Romania and Bulgaria at a meeting of EU interior ministers a year ago, stating that the level of illegal immigration was still too high, and both countries needed to do more to prevent it before joining the Schengen Zone. After agreeing on strengthened security measures at the borders and securing the support of other EU countries, Austria partially relented, proposing a phased entry. The Schengen Zone of open borders currently includes 23 out of 27 EU member states, as well as non-EU countries Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland.
