Current location:Global Glimmer news portal > opinions
Bulgaria, Romania to join Schengen area
Global Glimmer news portal2024-05-21 14:21:06【opinions】6People have gathered around
IntroductionBulgaria and Romania will become members of the passport-free Schengen area starting in March 2024,
Bulgaria and Romania will become members of the passport-free Schengen area starting in March 2024, according to an agreement reached by the Council of the European Union on Saturday night.
Under the agreement, the air and sea borders between the two countries and other Schengen members will be opened in March while a discussion on lifting the land border controls will continue in 2024.
The agreement was achieved under the Spanish presidency of the Council of EU which ended on Dec 31 after Austria dropped its veto. Austria has long opposed the move for fear of an influx of illegal immigrants.
"I am very pleased that in 2024 air and maritime internal controls between Bulgaria and Romania and the other Schengen countries will become a thing of the past, after 12 years of negotiations," said Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska.
"A long-awaited step for Romanian and Bulgarian citizens to enjoy easier freedom of movement with the perspective of land transport to come," European Council President Charles Michel said in a congratulatory message on X, formerly Twitter.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called it "a historic moment" for the two countries and "a day of great pride for Romanian and Bulgarian citizens".
The commission first confirmed that both countries were ready to be part of the Schengen area without internal border controls in 2011. It said that discussions on a date for possible lifting of the checks on persons at internal land borders will continue in 2024 and a decision by the EU Council is expected to be taken within "a reasonable time frame".
The Schengen area started in 1985 as an intergovernmental project between five EU member states — France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. It has since become the largest area of free movement in the world to include 27 countries covering 420 million people in an area of 4 million square kilometers.
The participation by Bulgaria and Romania will increase the member states to 29 with a population of 450 million in an area of 4.5 million square kilometers. The two countries joined the EU in 2007.
Romania has long argued that not being in the Schengen area caused annual GDP losses of 25 billion euros ($27.6 billion) for the country. Bulgarian Finance Minister Assen Vassilev said on Nov 2 that the country's entry into Schengen would automatically lead to an economic growth of 3 percent due to the removal of border barriers.
Address of this article:http://mauritius.chongwenmenhotelbeijing.com/content-9f799960.html
Very good!(372)
Related articles
- Messi in and Dybala out in Argentina squad for pre
- Now Just Stop Oil sell T
- Sánchez drives in the winning run in the 10th inning as the Marlins beat the Tigers 1
- Nelson Velázquez slugs 3
- Nuggets blow 20
- 'Don't tag this beach, b**ch!' Mallorca anti
- Napa Valley wine family is torn apart by Succession
- Jonquel Jones scores 25 to help the Liberty open the season with an 85
- Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. to lead Indianapolis 500 field in Corvette pace car
- Wilson's double
Popular articles
Recommended
Kristin Cavallari, 37, ignores critics of her age
Colorado city agrees to settle police beating lawsuit for $2.1 million
China to initiate issuance of ultra
Brazilian dance craze created by young people declared cultural heritage
French sports minister calls for sanctions after Monaco player tapes over anti
Greene pitches 7 sharp innings, Reds beat Diamondbacks 6
Gunmen kill five
How America's teacher shortage is leading uncertified educators into classrooms
Links
- Hawks' Trae Young says he feels better after late
- M&T Bank, Goldman Sachs rise; Salesforce, Tesla fall, Monday, 4/15/2024
- Budimir misses unforgettable last
- Donald Trump brings his campaign to the courthouse as his criminal hush money trial begins
- Tennessee schools would have to out transgender students to parents under bill heading to governor
- Tennessee lawmakers pass bill to involuntarily commit some defendants judged incompetent for trial
- Sports betting roundup: Scottie Scheffler was a popular pick at the Masters, and then he won
- House Speaker Mike Johnson leaves uncertain his plan to advance aid for Israel and Ukraine
- DR MAX PEMBERTON: Why Joe Wicks is WRONG about diet and the real reason children are getting ADHD
- NBA attendance: League says 71% of games this season were sellouts