Council Decision (EU) 2024/210 on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania

Summary:

Decision (EU) 2024/210 - adopted by the Council of the European Union on 30 December 2023 -  removing air and maritime internal border controls with Bulgaria and Romania.

Further information:

The Decision establishes that from 31 March 2024, there will no longer be checks on persons at EU internal air and maritime borders between Bulgaria and Romania and the other countries in the Schengen area. Following this first step, a further Decision should be taken by the Council of the European Union to establish a date for the lifting of checks at internal land borders.

The two countries have applied parts of the Schengen legal framework (or acquis) since their accession to the European Union, including those related to the external border controls, police cooperation and the use of the Schengen Information System (SIS). For the remaining parts of the acquis, which include the lifting of controls at internal borders and related measures, the Council must decide unanimously on their application after it has been verified that they fulfil the necessary conditions.

The plenary of the European Parliament adopted a Resolution on 12 July 2023 urging the Council of the European Union to approve the Schengen accession for Bulgaria and Romania. The Council eventually adopted this Decision on 20 December 2023, which was published in the Official Journal on 4 January 2024.

Official

General Secretariat of the Council (EU): Policies: The Schengen area explained https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/schengen-area/

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on Resolution on the accession to the Schengen area (2023/2668(RSP)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=en&reference=2023/2668(RSP)

European Parliament: Press Release, 12/07/2023: Bulgaria and Romania should be in Schengen by end of 2023, says Parliament https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230707IPR02431/

Renew Europe EP Group: Newsroom, 06/09/2023: Romania and Bulgaria belong in Schengen https://www.reneweuropegroup.eu/news/2023-09-06/romania-and-bulgaria-belongs-in-schengen

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 30/12/2023: Schengen area: Council agrees to lift air and maritime internal border controls with Bulgaria and Romania https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/12/30/schengen-area-council-takes-move-towards-lifting-border-controls-with-bulgaria-and-romania/

European Commission: Press Release, 30/12/2023: Bulgaria and Romania to join Schengen area starting with air and sea borders: Commission welcomes landmark Council decision https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_6861

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News

EurActiv, 04/07/2023: Schengen accession may come up at October’s Justice and Home Affairs Council https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/schengen-accession-may-come-up-at-octobers-justice-and-home-affairs-council/

Euronews, 19/10/2023: Spanish presidency eyes December vote to decide Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/10/19/spanish-presidency-eyes-december-vote-to-decide-schengen-accession-of-romania-and-bulgaria

EurActiv, 29/11/2023: Romania’s Schengen accession will not be voted on at JHA’s December meeting https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/romanias-schengen-accession-will-not-be-voted-on-at-jhas-december-meeting/

Radio Free Europe (RFE/RL), 03/12/2023: Sofia Angry At Dutch Refusal To Let Bulgaria Into Schengen https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-angry-netherlands-schengen/32160106.html

Politico, 10/12/2023: Austria signals softer stance on Romania, Bulgaria over air traffic https://www.politico.eu/article/austria-signals-softer-stance-on-schengen-veto-for-romania-bulgaria/

The Sofia Globe, 15/12/2023: PM: Bulgaria expects positive news from Netherlands on Schengen https://sofiaglobe.com/2023/12/15/pm-bulgaria-expects-positive-news-from-netherlands-on-schengen/

Politico, 28/12/2023: Romania, Bulgaria set to partially enter Schengen zone in March https://www.politico.eu/article/romania-bulgaria-eu-schengen-zone-march-2024/

Euronews, 28/12/2023: Romania, Bulgaria to partially enter Schengen after striking deal with Austria https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/12/28/romania-bulgaria-to-partially-enter-schengen-after-striking-deal-with-austria

BBC News, 28/12/2023: Romania and Bulgaria to join Schengen border-free zone by air and sea https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-67834837

EFE Agency, 30/12/2023: EU agrees on gradual entry of Romania and Bulgaria into Schengen border-free zone https://efe.com/en/latest-news/2023-12-30/eu-agrees-on-gradual-entry-of-romania-and-bulgaria-into-schengen-border-free-zone/

CNN News, 30/12/2023: Bulgaria and Romania join Schengen area for maritime and air passengers https://edition.cnn.com/2023/12/30/world/bulgaria-and-romania-join-schengen-area/index.html

Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), 30/12/2023: Bucharest's First Political Reactions to Council's Decision on Bulgaria, Romania's Schengen Entry https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/594143-bucharest-s-first-political-reactions-to-council-s-decision-on-bulgaria-romania

Politico, 31/12/2023: Bulgaria, Romania get official green light for partial entry into Schengen https://www.politico.eu/article/bulgaria-romania-schengen-area-green-light-partial-entry/

Radio Bulgaria (BNR), 31/12/2023: Council of the EU agrees to remove air and maritime internal border controls with Bulgaria and Romania https://bnr.bg/en/post/101928684/european-council-agrees-to-remove-air-and-maritime-internal-border-controls-with-bulgaria-and-romania

The Brussels Times, 31/12/2023: 'A historic occasion': Bulgaria and Romania to partially join the Schengen Area in March https://www.brusselstimes.com/857604/a-historic-occasion-bulgaria-and-romania-to-partially-join-the-schengen-area-in-march

Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), 31/12/2023: EU Council's Decision on Bulgaria's Schengen Entry: Reactions https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/594092-eu-council-s-decision-on-bulgaria-s-schengen-entry-reactions

Times of Malta, 01/01/2024: Bulgaria, Romania to partially join Schengen as of March 2024 https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/bulgaria-romania-partially-join-schengen-march-2024.1075791

Le Monde, 15/01/2024: Disappointment in Bulgaria after partial admission to the Schengen area https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/01/15/disappointment-in-bulgaria-after-partial-admission-to-the-schengen-area_6432183_4.html

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Commentary and Analysis

EUObserver: Opinion, 29/08/2023: Shelving Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen dream helps Russia https://euobserver.com/opinion/157356

Emerging Europe: Analysis, 18/09/2023: Bulgaria and Romania are finally rid of the CVM, but Schengen membership remains elusive https://emerging-europe.com/news/bulgaria-and-romania-are-finally-rid-of-the-cvm-but-schengen-membership-remains-elusive/

European People's Party (EPP): Emergency Resolution, November 2023: Romania’s and Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen Area https://www.epp.eu/files/uploads/2023/11/Romania-1.pdf

German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMFUS): Insights, 04/12/2023: The EU Keeps Bulgaria and Romania Waiting for Schengen https://www.gmfus.org/news/eu-keeps-bulgaria-and-romania-waiting-schengen

Emerging Europe: Analysis, 15/12/2023: ‘Air Schengen’ provokes very different responses in Bucharest and Sofia https://emerging-europe.com/news/air-schengen-provokes-very-different-responses-in-bucharest-and-sofia/

Euronews, 20/01/2024: Romania and Bulgaria will enter the Schengen zone in 2024. What will change for travellers? https://www.euronews.com/travel/2024/01/20/romania-and-bulgaria-will-enter-the-schengen-zone-in-2024-what-will-change-for-travellers

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