As of March 31, 2024, both Member States will start applying Schengen rules. Controls at internal air and sea borders between Bulgaria and Romania and countries of the Schengen area will be lifted as of March 31, 2024. The Council agreed that a further decision should be taken at an appropriate date for the removing checks at internal land borders.
Freedom and Security for Travellers
The Schengen provisions abolish checks at EU’s internal borders, while providing a single set of rules for controls at the external borders applicable to those who enter the Schengen area for a short period of time (up to 90 days).
The Schengen area relies on common rules covering in particular the following areas:
- crossing the EU external borders, including the types of visa needed,
- harmonization of the conditions of entry and of the rules on short stay visas (up to 90 days),
- cross-border police cooperation (including rights of cross-border surveillance and hot pursuit),
- stronger judicial cooperation through a faster extradition system and the transfer of enforcement of criminal judgments,
- the Schengen Information System (SIS)
- documents needed for travelling in Europe.
Criteria to Join the Schengen Area
Joining the Schengen Area is not merely a political decision of the joining State. Countries must fulfil a list of pre-conditions:
- apply the common set of Schengen rules (the so-called “Schengen acquis”), e.g. regarding controls of land, sea and air borders (airports), issuing of visas, police cooperation and protection of personal data,
- take responsibility for controlling the external borders on behalf of other Schengen countries and for issuing uniform Schengen visas,
- efficiently cooperate with law enforcement agencies in other Schengen countries, to maintain a high level of security, once border controls between Schengen countries are abolished,
- connect to and use the Schengen Information System (SIS)
Countries wishing to join the Schengen area must undergo a series of Schengen evaluations to confirm whether they fulfil the conditions necessary for the application of the Schengen rules. Once the Schengen Evaluation confirms the readiness of the Member State to join the area without internal border controls, a unanimous approval from all other Member States applying the Schengen acquis in full is required.