Bulgaria Expects Schengen Membership Decision by Year-End

Bulgaria is optimistic that a decision regarding its full membership in the Schengen Area will be made by the end of this year. Authorities in Sofia have expressed hope that the accession of both Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Zone, specifically in terms of land borders, will soon be finalized.

Yordanka Chobanova, Head of the European Commission’s Representation in Bulgaria, shared the latest developments, stating that on October 10, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, along with Hungary’s interior minister, will propose to the Council of the European Union that border checks at land crossings be abolished. Chobanova expressed optimism, telling Euractiv that Bulgaria expects strong support from the European Commission for its full accession to Schengen.

Remaining outside the Schengen Area for land borders has led to significant financial losses for Bulgaria. In July, Petko Nikolov, the caretaker Economy Minister, presented data from the Institute of Economic Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, showing that these losses reached €400 million.

Although Bulgaria and Romania became partial members of the Schengen Zone on March 31, 2024, leading to the lifting of controls for sea and air travel, land border controls remain in effect. Authorities in both countries are now pushing for full integration, including the removal of land border checks.

Hungary, which currently holds the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, also supports a decision on Bulgaria and Romania’s Schengen accession by the end of 2024. In July, Hungary’s Deputy Minister of the Interior, Bence Retvari, emphasized the importance of concluding the process without further delays. He highlighted the challenges faced at the EU’s southern borders, noting, "Migrants arriving at the EU’s southern borders do not seek to obey the law, often attacking border guards. They do not respect the EU; they do not cooperate with the authorities."

Retvari’s comments come as Hungary prioritizes the inclusion of Bulgaria and Romania in the Schengen Zone during its presidency, which began on July 1, 2024, and will run until the end of the year. Hungary's Ambassador to the EU, Balint Odor, also underlined the importance of abolishing land border controls for both countries and emphasized the need to address irregular migration as a key priority during this period.

By fLEXI tEAM