Sofia, 1 January 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Eighteen years after joining the European Union, Bulgaria and Romania on Wednesday became full members of the visa-free Schengen Area.

At the turn of the year, border controls on land were lifted, months after restrictions on sea borders and airports were removed last March. Both countries acceded to the EU on January 1, 2007. 

In Kulata on the border with Greece, Bulgarian Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev, hailed the move as a "historic event."

A ceremonial raising of the barriers took place on New Year's Eve at the Romanian-Bulgarian border crossing Giurgiu-Russe with the countries' interior ministers.

A similar ceremony at the Romanian-Hungarian motorway border crossing Nădlac Csanádpalota was attended by high-ranking police officers from both sides. 

Travellers by car and train between Romania and Hungary no longer have to show documents at the 17 official border crossings. Checks will also no longer be carried out at the previous six border crossings on the Bulgarian-Greek border. 

Schengen Area grows to 29 countries

With Romania and Bulgaria, a total of 29 countries now belong to the Schengen Area, including most EU states, but also non-EU countries such as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

However, many governments - including Germany - have recently reintroduced border controls in the fight against irregular migration.

New members can only be accepted into the Schengen Area unanimously, with Austria only lifting its veto on the accession of Romania and Bulgaria in December.

Vienna had justified its veto by arguing that numerous migrants could continue to enter Austria via the two countries.

They have since strengthened their external border protection, with a contingent of 100 border guards from Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria set to be deployed to the EU's external border between Bulgaria and Turkey.

The lack of full membership in the Schengen area has so far cost Bulgaria over €834 million ($868 million), according to figures from the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), an advisory body of the EU.

Romania has lost €2.32 billion a year in revenue as a result, the EESC added.

MIA file photo