New European Countries Join the Schengen Area

The 27 member states of the European Union announced on Saturday night the partial accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Schengen Area starting March 31. The 27 countries unanimously agreed to lift air and sea border restrictions for the two countries effective March 31, according to a statement issued in Brussels. The European Commission welcomed the two countries, stating that "the expansion of the Schengen Area will make the European Union stronger, both internally and on the global stage." It noted that its decision was made after several "fact-finding missions" were sent in 2022 and 2023 to the external borders of the two countries to confirm their readiness to join Schengen. Currently, the Schengen Area allows unrestricted travel within the territories of 26 countries (including 22 EU countries) and encompasses more than 400 million citizens, making it the largest area of free movement in the world, according to the Commission.