Romania and Bulgaria to open borders next year, what could go wrong?

Romania and Bulgaria have officially been granted full membership in the Schengen area, which permits free movement across 29 European countries. The Council of the European Union made this significant decision on December 12, 2024, during a meeting held in Brussels, removing the last barriers for these two nations to join the Schengen agreement. Prior to this, air and sea border controls were abolished on March 31, 2024, marking a critical milestone towards integration into this large zone of free movement. The European Commission has celebrated this progress, asserting that integrating Romania and Bulgaria will enhance travel, trade, and tourism, thereby further strengthening the internal market. Both countries are now set to eliminate existing internal land border controls by the new year. The decision received unanimous support from the interior ministers of the 27 EU member states, with Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter emphasizing that Romania and Bulgaria are technically prepared for this integration. The entry of these countries into Schengen presents an important historic moment, as noted by the new EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner. However, the accession is not without controversy. Bulgaria, which shares a border with Turkey, has faced criticism from various NGOs regarding alleged migrant pushbacks. In 2023 alone, reports indicated nearly 10,000 instances of pushbacks affecting close to 175,000 individuals. Such allegations raise questions about the human rights situation at the borders and the role of institutions like Frontex, which is the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. Romania’s Border Protection spokesperson, Deputy Prime Minister Marian-Catalin Predoiu, asserted their country’s commitment to maintaining secure borders, highlighting Romania's capabilities as among the best in Europe. The Schengen area, established in 1985, has evolved to include a total of 29 countries, including the 27 EU member states, barring Cyprus and Ireland, and non-EU members like Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The addition of Romania and Bulgaria represents a significant expansion, reshaping the Schengen area’s eastern borders and providing healthier travel and trade dynamics within Europe. The European Commission has assured ongoing financial and logistical support to assist both countries in managing their external borders effectively, particularly in light of their strategic geographic positions bordering non-EU nations.