Romania and Bulgaria get the Schengen green light
The internal land borders will be lifted as of January.
Schengen area
Romania and Bulgaria to fully join Schengen Area in 2025
After years of debates and opposition, Bucharest and Sofia received the greenlight to join the border-free area.
The post Romania and Bulgaria to fully join Schengen Area in 2025 appeared first on Euractiv.
Romania and Bulgaria are granted full Schengen membership, with one caveat
Romania and Bulgaria will become full-time members of the Schengen Area as of 1 January 2025, completing a process that dates back to 2011, when the European Commission declared both countries ready to join.
Defenders of the Romanian nation and all Europeans
A strong European Union is built on protecting each of its members’
interests equally. The AUR is ready to collaborate.
Does Germany still believe in Europe?
Scholz now seems to view the bloc as a problem to be managed, while European institutions and member countries seem to regard him as a problem to be managed in return.
Germany arrests Libyan suspected of planning terror attack on Israeli embassy
Detention of Libyan man suspected of links to Islamic State threatens to further fan the debate over immigration.
Paris and Berlin’s letter for an EU-UK migration deal never ‘received’ by the Commission
“We have no indication that the letter was formally received,” a Commission spokesperson told Euractiv.
Plan to fingerprint passengers on entry to EU to be delayed again
France, Germany and the Netherlands have raised concerns over entry-exit system, originally due to launch in 2023Plans to fingerprint passengers entering the EU from 10 November are to be delayed for a third time after concerns were raised by France, G…
Romania and Bulgaria’s Schengen accession: A step towards European unity [Promoted content]
Romania and Bulgaria’s full accession to the Schengen Area in 2024 would not only bring economic benefits but also strengthen European solidarity and unity, marking a strong start for the European Commission in its new mandate.
Germany ‘reopens old wounds’ with border checks
Berlin’s decision risks hampering borderless travel in Schengen area
EU needs faster migrant returns, say 17 countries including Germany, France: Report
The push comes amid a rightward and anti-immigration shift in multiple EU countries.
Biden needs to be the last Irish-American US president
In desperately seeking to maintain its privileged position in Washington, successive Irish governments have unintentionally sabotaged their credibility within the EU.
EU could strip Georgians of visa-free access over backsliding on democracy
The South Caucasus country’s government must live up to its obligations if it wants to keep its benefits, the Commission told POLITICO.
Hungary piggybacks on Dutch EU migration opt-out request
EU countries are legally bound to abide by the bloc’s migration and asylum rules.
Georgian PM blasts EU for visa ‘blackmail’ as election crackdown looms
The country’s pivot toward Moscow could cost its citizens their ability to travel, according to unconfirmed reports.
Poland seeks EU response to German border control decision
Poland will start consultations with other EU countries bordering Germany to formulate a response to Germany’s decision to introduce border controls, the Polish Interior Ministry confirmed to Euractiv.pl.
Is the border-free Schengen Area about to unravel?
Recent developments in Germany and Hungary linked to irregular migration have cast serious doubts over the future of the Schengen Area.
Germany’s Scholz gets tough on border in bid to save political future
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s move to establish new border controls risks generating an EU rift.
Poland’s Tusk slams Germany’s border checks as ‘unacceptable’
Berlin’s decision is a “de facto suspension of the Schengen Agreement on a large scale,” Polish PM says.
Polish PM slams German border controls
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Tuesday (10 September) sharply criticised Germany’s decision to tighten controls on all its borders, including the one it shares with Poland.
Which other Schengen countries have border checks in place?
Germany has announced that it’s implementing new border checks for the next six months to curb the influx of illegal migrants. Which other countries within the Schengen Area are doing the same and why?
Germany tightens border controls in immigration clampdown
German police will carry out checks on the borders with all nine neighboring countries.
Michel Barnier: Everything you need to know about the new French PM’s conservative politics
The new French prime minister has embraced conservative stances at home which could net him tacit support from the far right.
Germany’s role in Schengen’s uncertain future
The nearly 40-year-old treaty that established the European Union’s border-free travel zone is under strain as countries like Austria, France, and Germany increasingly defy its rules.
Border controls are ‘last resort,’ Brussels says after Solingen attack inflames migration debate
The spectre of additional border controls looms over the Schengen Area after a deadly attack in Solingen, Germany.
German neighbours ring alarm bells over potential border controls
As pressure grows in Berlin to reintroduce checks on all German borders, its neighbouring EU countries are warning the move could lead to a domino effect that could unravel the border-free Schengen area.
EU countries move against Schengen, tighten borders
Europe’s free-travel zone, otherwise known as the Schengen Area, is increasingly being punctured by border controls as many EU countries opt to tighten their internal borders.
Sex, drugs and… paperwork: Brexit steals spotlight from British bands
A diminishing number of grassroots U.K. musicians are performing at the continent’s festivals.
UK citizens travelling to EU next summer will have to pay €7 visa-waiver charge
Scheme will mirror US Esta and apply to travel to Schengen area, with under-18s and over-70s exempt Business live – latest updatesUK citizens travelling to the EU next summer will have to pay a €7 visa-waiver charge after the EU revealed its timeline f…
Hungary remains defiant on explanation of easing entry requirements for Russians, Belarusians
A European Commission deadline for Hungary to respond to questions about the easing of entry requirements for Russian and Belarusian nationals expired on Monday (19 August).
German Greens urge von der Leyen to stop Germany’s border checks
German Green politicians have published an open letter to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, calling for the EU to stop German border checks, which they see as a violation of the Schengen area.
Hungary’s easing of immigration rules for Russians raises espionage fears
Fallout from policy, which grants Russians and Belarusians fast-track access to European Union, could threaten Hungary’s Schengen membership.
A Dilemma of Two Communities: How the Portuguese-speaking Countries Mobility Agreement Might be Conflicting with EU Law
Ana Rita Gil*, Aylin Yildiz
Noorda** & Lucas Ricardo***
* Professor, Law Faculty of the
University of Lisbon, Portugal. Researcher at the Lisbon Public Law. Email:
anaritagil@fd.ulisboa.pt.
** Postdoctoral Researcher at the
…
Bulgaria loses almost €1bn due to Schengen accession delays this year
Bulgaria has lost €0.7 billion this year alone – including €423 million in direct losses and €225 million in lost benefits – as a result of not being fully admitted to the Schengen area, said caretaker Economy Minister Petko Nikolov.
Far-right leader Bardella unveils immigration program ahead of snap elections
Jordan Bardella confirmed Monday (June 24) that he intended to abolish France’s “droit du sol”, birthright to citizenship, after the snap elections, and said he would restrict Schengen space to EU citizens only.
Portugal ‘no longer at risk’ of being suspended from Schengen
Portugal is no longer at risk of being suspended from the Schengen area, the country’s intelligence platform, the Internal Security System (SSI), said on Thursday, stressing that it had overcome delays in installing the new digital and biometric border…
The Kremlin’s growing influence in Orbán’s Hungary
The deepening ties between Russia and Hungary can’t be allowed to go unchecked any longer.
One part of Britain is opening borders to the EU. Tory MPs are furious.
A new deal would open Gibraltar’s border with Spain, gateway to the EU’s entire Schengen area.
Restoring the Borderless Schengen Area: Mission Impossible? Summary of a new report
Professor Steve Peers, Royal Holloway University of LondonPhoto credit: BlueMars, via Wikimedia CommonsMy European Policy Analysis report on the amendments to the
Schengen Borders Code, published
today by the Swedish Institute of European Policy …
In the safe hands of Sweden, here comes Eurovision 2024
There’s been intense debate about the dividing lines between music, art and politics in the run-up to the competition, and still no clear favorite has emerged.
New Schengen rules add migration ‘instrumentalisation’ as cause for EU border closures
The European Parliament has approved updates to the passport-free Schengen area rules, including the introduction of border restrictions in case of ‘instrumentalisation’, or facilitating the entry of irregular migrants into EU territory.
The Luxembourg-France border is prime pro-EU territory — except it isn’t
Tens of thousands of people in eastern France cross the border to Luxembourg every day for work — yet Marine Le Pen’s National Rally is gaining ground in the area.
German, French far-right clash again – this time over Mayotte’s status
In today’s edition of the Capitals, find out more about the Lithuanian president saying Polish President Andrzej Duda’s visit to Trump Tower has influenced Trump’s stance on Ukraine, Czechia wanting to reintroduce a proposal to curb the travel of Russi…
Czech FM to reintroduce proposal to curb Schengen travel for Russian diplomats
Czechia will again propose restricting the movement of Russian diplomats in the Schengen area, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský (Pirates, Greens) said in response to the arrest of two Russian agents in Germany on suspicion of espionage and planning …
Romania and Bulgaria join Europe’s Schengen travel zone
Romania and Bulgaria partially joined Europe’s ID-check-free travel zone on Sunday, marking a new step in the two countries’ integration with the European Union. After years of negotiations to join the so-called Schengen area, there is now free access…
Bulgaria, Romania partially join EU’s visa-free Schengen zone
Bulgaria and Romania joined Europe’s vast Schengen area of free movement on Sunday, opening up travel by air and sea without border checks after a 13-year wait.
Bulgaria, Romania take first steps into Europe’s passport-free zone
Bulgaria and Romania joined Europe’s Schengen area of free movement on Sunday (31 Marc), opening up travel by air and sea without border checks after a 13-year wait.
Bulgarians, Romanians will no longer need to show ID at internal EU air and sea borders
Bulgarians and Romanians will no longer be subject to checks when officially entering the Schengen Area at the EU’s internal air and sea borders from 31 March, although checks will still be carried out when crossing land borders.
Bulgaria and Romania to partially join Schengen – a bit too late?
On the latest episode of Euractiv’s Today in the EU we invited Georgi Gotev, our senior editor to take a deep dive into Bulgaria’s and Romania’s Schengen admission.
EU single market czar outlines key reforms
Former Italian PM Enrico Letta wants to overhaul state subsidy rules and stop the brain drain of talent from poorer EU countries.
Bulgaria, Romania get official green light for partial entry into Schengen area
Controls at sea and air borders with Romania and Bulgaria to be lifted as of March 31.
Romania, Bulgaria set to partially enter Schengen zone in March
Austria has dropped some of its previous opposition, but there’s still no agreement on opening of land borders.
‘Air Schengen’: Austria to relax air, sea borders with Romania and Bulgaria
Romania and Bulgaria have reached an agreement with Austria to join the European Schengen area of free movement by sea and air in March 2024, the Romanian government said Wednesday.
Hungary to veto Bulgaria’s Schengen bid over tax on Russia gas, minister says
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó calls Bulgaria’s transit levy ‘completely contrary to European legislation.’
Dutch government drops objection to Bulgaria joining Schengen
Bulgaria has met the conditions to join Europe’s passport-free Schengen area by strengthening its borders and efforts to combat illegal migration, the Netherlands said Friday (15 December), as Sofia took one step closer to joining.
Bulgaria to scrap tax on Russian gas after Hungarian threat
Sofia relents on transit levy after Budapest warned it would block country’s entry into border-free Schengen area
Bulgaria waives Russian gas transit tax in hopes of furthering Schengen talks
Parties of the ruling majority in the Bulgarian parliament have agreed to cancel the tax on Russian gas imports transiting through Bulgarian territory, with GERB leader and former prime minister Boyko Borissov hoping it could help the country’s Schenge…
Austria signals softer stance on Romania, Bulgaria over air traffic
Vienna proposes easier air travel in the EU for Bulgarians and Romanians, according to media reports.
‘Unbearable’: Lorry drivers and environment pay price of air pollution at Bulgaria-Romania border
Hours-long border queues are taking a climate toll in Bulgaria and Romania. Could entry into the Schengen Area help?
Bulgaria ‘hostage’ to Schengen Area debate, says prime minister
The Eastern European country was blocked from joining the passport-free zone at the start of the year.
‘No justifiable reason’ to keep Bulgaria out of Schengen, says Roberta Metsola
Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament, voiced on Wednesday her unconditional support for Bulgaria’s bid to join the Schengen Area in anticipation of a high-stakes vote next month.
EU shifts to digital visas for Schengen area
People applying for visas to visit Europe’s Schengen area will soon do so via an online platform, under a change adopted by EU foreign ministers on Monday (13 November).
The EU at 30: Looking forward and back
For all its achievements, the bloc still struggles to defend its core ideals of unity, solidarity and harmony.
EPP chief slams border controls within the EU
Several EU countries, including Germany and Italy, have recently introduced temporary border controls to curb irregular migration in a blow to the Schengen area, but EU centre-right (EPP) leader Manfred Weber has limited faith in it and believes that p…
EU ready to introduce digitalisation of visa procedures in the Schengen area
The European Parliament formally approved the agreements on digitalisation of visas in the Schengen area on Wednesday (18 October), the penultimate step to the file becoming a legislative act.
Germany plans new checks at Polish, Czech, Swiss borders
The measures are an effort to ‘step up the fight against smuggling and limit irregular migration,’ interior ministry says.
Schengen: How Europe is ruining its ‘crown jewel’
One of Europe’s flagship projects is faltering. The passport-free Schengen area is under a continued assault from a growing number of countries that maintain or have re-introduced internal border checks, citing migration or terrorism worries.
Official: Germany will impose checks on borders with Poland and Czech Republic
The government is under increasing pressure to stem the flow of asylum seekers.
Germany’s Scholz hints at checks on Polish border amid visa-for-bribes scandal
‘Further measures may then have to be taken at the borders,’ German chancellor says.
EU to open talks on tighter border rules in the Schengen area
EU lawmakers will start negotiations on revisions to the Schengen code in the coming days, in a bid to harmonise rules on border controls or lifting them, in cases such as a health crisis or other kind of threats.
Press release – Free movement: Schengen reform to ensure border controls only as a last resort
Civil Liberties Committee MEPs backed proposals which would mean border controls within the free-movement Schengen area can only be reintroduced when absolutely necessary.Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Source : © European Union,…
Romania threatens Austria with lawsuit over stalled Schengen accession
Romania could claim back ‘its losses caused by non-accession’ to the free-travel zone, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu says.
Austria rebuts von der Leyen’s call for Schengen enlargement
Austria has rejected European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s call to lift its veto against Bulgaria and Romania joining the Schengen area, arguing that extending the visa-free zone currently makes no sense. In her State of the Union …
Von der Leyen’s Schengen message fails to raise enthusiasm in Bulgaria
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s call on Wednesday (13 September) for Bulgaria and Romania to join the Schengen area as soon as possible prompted applause from MEPs but failed to impress the Bulgarian audience, who are pressing for …
Von der Leyen wants Bulgaria, Romania in Schengen ASAP
‘Let us finally bring them in — without any further delay,’ says European Commission president.
Poland’s government under fire after reports of cash-for-visas scheme
The ruling party is scrambling to distance itself from the scandal, which could dent its support ahead of next month’s election.
Anticipating ‘unfair’ Schengen decision, MEP suggests scrapping Bulgaria-Romania border
Bulgaria and Romania should abolish border control if both countries are not accepted into the Schengen area by Christmas, Bulgarian MEP Andrey Novakov (EPP) said, as Austria, which has been blocking the two countries’ path toward the EU border-free zo…
9 ways Dutch political paralysis hits the EU
Political limbo likely to hold back the Netherlands’ influence on key files in Brussels.
EU House stresses ‘side-effects’ of Romania, Bulgaria Schengen blockade
A non-binding European Parliament resolution adopted on Wednesday calls for Bulgaria and Romania to join the border-free Schengen area by the end of the year, stressing severe side-effects for the two countries’ citizens.
Center right aims to rebuild base in France and Italy, Croatian prime minister says
Europe’s moderate right can’t afford to lose the EU’s biggest countries, Balkan leader warns.
Schengen accession may come up at October’s Justice and Home Affairs Council
Bulgaria and Romania’s access to the Schengen may be a talking point during the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) meeting in October, the Spanish ambassador to Romania said during a press conference on Monday. The Schengen area must function “respecting…..