Bulgaria to introduce border controls with Romania from January 1, 2025

Sofia: Bulgaria will temporarily introduce border controls at the Bulgarian-Romanian internal borders from January 1, 2025.

These measures are scheduled to be kept in place for six months.

The Council of Ministers in Bulgaria adopted a decision to ensure the implementation of the Quadripartite Declaration between Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania, agreed on November 22.

Bulgaria’s government has decided to temporarily introduce controls at the Bulgarian-Romanian internal borders for a period of six months, starting on January 1, 2025.

Authorities in Sofia decided to suspend the operation of border crossing points at the Bulgarian-Romanian and Bulgarian-Greek internal borders, Schengen.News reports.

The Council of Ministers in Sofia adopted a decision that aimed to ensure the implementation of the Quadripartite Declaration between Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania, which was agreed on November 22 in the meeting held in Budapest between the interior ministers from these countries.

The decision also aims to ensure the implementation of the Council Decision on setting a date for the abolishment of controls on persons at the internal land borders with and between Bulgaria and Romania.

In line with the Quadripartite Declaration, border controls will be reinstated at border crossing points at the internal border with Romania for a period of six months, from January 1, 2025, and after that, they will be suspended. This decision aims to address potential security risks from changes in migration patterns as a result of the removal of internal border controls.

Romania and Bulgaria became part of the Schengen Area partially through air and sea on March 31, 2024. But land border controls remained effective.

On December 12, the European Union Council adopted a unanimous decision on the membership of these two countries, in terms of land borders, to the Schengen Area.

The decision was confirmed through a statement by the Council of the European Union, stressing that EU member states have decided to abolish controls on persons at the internal land borders between Romania and Bulgaria from the beginning of next year.

Both Romania and Bulgaria will officially become full members of the Schengen Area starting on January 1, 2025.

In the 16-19 December plenary session in Strasbourg, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, said she was pleased that these two Balkan countries will enter the Schengen Zone as full members from January 1, 2025.

Metsola said that the Parliament has been a strong supporter of Romania and Bulgaria’s efforts to enter the Schengen zone, stressing that a stronger Schengen means a safer and more united Europe.

With these historic decisions, we are showing what a united Europe can achieve, bringing people closer together, breaking down barriers, and making the promise of Europe a little bit more tangible for everyone.

The decision was also considered a great victory for Bulgaria, Romania, and all of Europe by Hungary, who was the holder of the presidency of the Council of the EU. Hungary often mentioned that the inclusion of these two countries in the Schengen Area is one of its main priorities.