The decision for the full membership of Bulgaria and Romania in Schengen has been drafted

According to unofficial information, the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU has drafted a decision for the full admission of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Area. The draft document states that from January 1, 2025, checks on persons at internal land borders with and between Bulgaria shall be lifted, reported public service broadcaster BNT. It also recalls that on March 31, 2024, as the first step towards the two countries' Schengen accession, checks at the internal air and sea borders with and between the two countries were lifted.

The document will be discussed at a meeting of the ambassadors of the EU member states on November 27 and will be officially voted on at the EU interior ministers' meeting on December 12 in Brussels.

According to sources from the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the EU, no additional comments are expected from the member states, meaning the decision will be adopted. The Netherlands has also confirmed that it has no objections, but before the vote on December 12, formal consent must be given by the country's national parliament.