Romania, Bulgaria to Partially Join EU's Schengen Area on Sunday

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Raimond Spekking / Border checkpoint Nădlac - Nagylak - Romanian side
Border checkpoint Nădlac - Nagylak - Romanian side - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 31.03.2024
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Romania and Bulgaria will partially join the European Union's Schengen Area of free movement by sea and air on Sunday after over a decade-long process of waiting for the agreement.
EU authorities have confirmed that days spent in Bulgaria and Romania will count toward the Schengen allowance of a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period, or less for visa nationals, starting March 31.
Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU in 2007 ­and have been trying to enter the Schengen Area for over a decade. Austria has opposed the countries' admission, citing irregular migration concerns. In December 2023, Austria withdrew its veto and allowed the removal of border checks for air and sea travel.
Austria flag - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 31.03.2024
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The Schengen visa-free zone previously included 27 countries, including all EU member states — except Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania — and non-EU members Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
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