Bulgaria and Romania are holding ceremonies to mark their full membership in Europe’s Schengen area, the culmination of years of negotiations by the Eastern European countries to join the ID check-free travel zone.

Ceremonies mark culmination of years of negotiations by the Eastern European countries to join the ID check-free travel zone.

Romania and Bulgaria officially join the Schengen Area on 1 January 2025, removing border controls and ensuring free movement across the EU

The European Union ministers has agreed to let Bulgaria and Romania fully integrate into Europe’s ID-check-free travel zone known as the Schengen area by lifting land border controls next year.

Romania and Bulgaria became full members of the Schengen free movement area at midnight local time on Wednesday (2200 GMT), ending more than 13 years of waiting.