Romania and Bulgaria's shared journey to join the passport-free Schengen Area came to an end on Thursday morning as interior ministers from the European Union gave their final blessing to their hard-fought candidacy. The momentous decision was made possible after Austria, the most ardent opponent, lifted its firmly held veto last month during a meeting in Budapest. "A great victory for Bulgaria, Romania, and all of Europe," said the Hungarian presidency of the EU Council, which had made the completion of Schengen a key priority. As a result, the two Eastern countries will join Schengen as of 1 January 2025 in the capacity of fully-fledged members, closing the chapter that began in 2011, when the European Commission first determined their readiness for accession. Back then, many countries, including Germany and France, opposed the joint candidacy. Over time, the political opposition gradually eased, leaving the Netherlands and, eventually, Austria as the last standing roadblock in the long road. Checks at air and sea borders were lifted earlier this year. "Fully in Schengen – where you belong," said Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission. "A stronger Schengen signifies a safer and more united Europe," said Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament. The accession, though, comes with a key caveat set to dent celebrations somewhat. The Budapest deal foresees the introduction of checks at the land borders between Hungary and Romania and between Romania and Bulgaria for "at least" six months to "prevent any serious threat to public policy and internal security". The wording of "at least" implies they could be extended further down the line. The concession was meant to assuage Vienna's persistent concerns about irregular migration, which the country repeatedly invoked to block the twin bid. This means that the great achievement of Thursday's approval – the permanent abolition of passport checks at land borders – will not be completely realised and citizens who travel across countries will still risk facing some queues and delays. The use of border checks to curb migration flows has become increasingly popular across the bloc. Germany, France and the Netherlands are among those who have resorted to the measure in recent months, despite its contested effectiveness. Saila Heinikoski, a senior researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA), says the re-introduction of border checks can act as a "tool" for politicians to "say to the domestic public that we are doing something." "Internal border controls may not be that invasive actually, they may be only random checks at the border," Heinikoski said. The Schengen Area, one of the most tangible achievements of European integration, currently encompasses 29 countries and almost 450 million people. — Euronews
