CURRENT AFFAIRS
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Description
Romania and Bulgaria have joined the Schengen Area, Europe's ID-free travel zone, on April 1, 2024. This is a crucial step towards the two countries' integration into the European Union.
Land border inspections, on the other hand, will continue in force because to objections from Austria, which has long resisted their proposal due to fears about illegal migration.
Background
Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007, and Croatia in 2013. Before Romania and Bulgaria were included, the Schengen Area consisted of 23 of the 27 EU member nations, as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. Every day, around 3.5 million individuals pass internal borders within the Schengen Area.
Criteria for Joining
For almost a decade, the European Commission has claimed that Romania and Bulgaria meet the technical requirements for full Schengen Area membership. All member states must provide unanimous support for full admission.
Both countries have agreed to conduct random security screenings at airports and marine crossings in order to combat unlawful migration and cross-border crime.
Impacts on Travel and the Economy
The removal of border controls is expected to improve operations at Bulgaria's four international airports, which served roughly 11 million passengers in 2023. Sofia Airport is the busiest hub for Schengen flights, accounting for 70% of total flights. The lowered regulations are likely to benefit the tourism industries in both countries.
Concerns and Challenges
Members of the European Parliament have raised worry over long lines at the EU's land borders, the impact on trade in the bloc's single market, as well as driver health and safety.
Truck drivers frequently experience delays at the Romanian and Bulgarian borders, with the Union of International Carriers in Bulgaria estimating that these delays cost the industry tens of millions of euros each year.
Plans for the future
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu claimed that the administration has a clear plan to fully join the Schengen Area by the end of 2024. Bulgaria's interior minister, Kalin Stoyanov, has also stated that the country's full accession will take place by the end of 2024, highlighting the country's commitment to discouraging illegal migrants from traveling to Europe via Bulgaria.
About the Schengen Area.
The Schengen Area has a population of about 420 million and an area of 4,312,099 square kilometers (1,664,911 square miles). The Schengen Agreement was signed on June 14, 1985, by five of the then-ten member nations of the European Economic Community (EEC) in the town of Schengen in Luxembourg.
For international travel purposes, the Schengen territory functions similarly to a single jurisdiction, with exterior border controls for travelers entering and exiting the territory, as well as common visas, but no internal borders.
About Romania
Romania is in Southeastern Europe. The capital and largest city is Bucharest. The Carpathian Mountains, the Danube River, and the Black Sea shoreline all call this country home. Romania has a population of approximately 19 million people and is a member of the European Union.The official language is Romanian, a Romance language that is connected to Italian, French, and Spanish.
About Bulgaria
Bulgaria is located in the Balkans area of Europe, bordering Romania to the north and Turkey to the south. Sofia serves as the country's capital and largest city. Bulgaria has a population of almost 7 million people and is famous for its beautiful coastline on the Black Sea coast, ski resorts in the Alps, and ancient historical sites. The country has a rich history that stretches from the Thracian culture to the Ottoman Empire.
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