Romania, Bulgaria Fully Join Schengen Border-Free Zone

On 1st January 2025, Romania and Bulgaria officially joined the Schengen Area, removing border checks with Hungary and between themselves.

Key Points

Streamlining Travel: With 40 border crossing points now operational without checks, travel and trade within the region have been streamlined.
Random Checks: Authorities will still conduct random inspections within a 30-km border zone using mobile devices and risk-based methods.
Hungary's Migration Stance: Hungary recently sought an exemption from EU asylum and migration rules, citing national security and the need to curb illegal migration, though it reaffirmed its commitment to Schengen.
EU Treaty Context: This exemption request comes amidst discussions of possible amendments to EU treaties, echoing similar moves by the Netherlands.