Bulgaria and Romania will partially join the European Union's Schengen Free Movement Area from March 31.
The announcement was made this Saturday (30th) by the 27 Member States.
A statement from Brussels said that EU countries had unanimously decided to abolish controls at the two countries' air and sea borders from the date corresponding to the transition from winter time to summer time.
The 27 must make a new decision on when to abolish controls at the EU's internal borders for Romania and Bulgaria, the European Council communication said.
The executive branch of the European Union also welcomed the decision in a statement after twelve years of negotiations.
“Today is a historic moment for Bulgaria and Romania and fills their citizens with great pride,” EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a press release.
The Commission recalled that since 2011 it had assumed that the two countries were ready to join the Schengen area.
Vienna imposed the ban in 2022 in protest against the entry of many illegal immigrants into its territory, but agreed to lift it in exchange for guarantees.
Sofia and Bucharest agreed to step up their fight against illegal immigration in a joint declaration signed with Vienna on Saturday.
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