”It is a historic moment to finally welcome Bulgaria and Romania as full Schengen members. Lifting controls on persons at internal land borders with and between these Member States has been a top priority for the Hungarian Presidency (of the EU Council) and today we have made it a reality. This step will be beneficial not only for Bulgarian and Romanian citizens, but also for the EU as a whole,” said Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter after Thursday's decision.

Since their accession to the EU, Bulgaria and Romania have been applying parts of the Schengen legal framework (the Schengen acquis), including those relating to external border controls, police cooperation and the use of the Schengen Information System. On December 30, 2023, the Council adopted a decision to apply, from March 31, 2024, the remaining parts of the Schengen acquis and to lift controls on persons at internal air and sea borders.

The European Commission welcomed the "unanimous decision" of the Council "to lift internal land border controls at the internal land borders with Romania and Bulgaria from January 1, 2025".

"This important step completes the full entry of both countries into the Schengen Area. This not only strengthens the Schengen Area, but will further strengthen the internal market, increase travel, trade and tourism. A strong Schengen area strengthens EU unity and makes the EU stronger on a global scale," the EC said in a press release.

The decision "means that, as of January 1, 2025, citizens can travel without land border controls to and between Bulgaria and Romania," the EU executive added.

EC President Ursula von der Leyen also welcomed on Thursday the full accession of the two countries to the European area of free movement. "Fully in Schengen, where you belong," Von der Leyen wrote in a post on the X network, accompanying her text with a picture of the Romanian and Bulgarian flags together.

"Since December last year, when the Council decided to welcome Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen area, both member states have taken all the necessary measures to ensure a smooth application of the Schengen rules from March 31, 2024. On that date, internal air and sea border controls at internal air and sea borders were lifted and Schengen rules started to apply, including as regards the issuance of Schengen visas," the European Commission recalls in its communication.

"The cooperation frameworks that the Commission launched in March this year with Bulgaria and Romania build on the successful implementation of the pilot projects for rapid asylum and return procedures. Both countries will further support common European efforts to tackle EU security at the EU's external borders and migration challenges. The Commission will also continue to provide financial support and Frontex assistance to both Member States," Brussels added.

The European Commission also notes that "as highlighted in the State of Schengen 2024 report, Schengen is strong and remains the most visited destination in the world".

"Ensuring smooth and safe travel in a region with a population of almost 450 million people, the Schengen Area is essential for the European Union, its citizens and its businesses. With Bulgaria and Romania now fully part of the Schengen area, we are taking another crucial step to build a strong and connected Union", the European Commission concluded its statement.