Bulgaria and Romania are taking a partial step into the Schengen zone, as air and sea border controls will be lifted starting March 31st. The European Commission announced

this development in a press release on Saturday, marking a significant move towards integration. Although the land border controls are set to remain for now, negotiations are expected to continue through 2024.

The decision to lift the controls at air and sea borders was finalized by the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU on Saturday, with Belgium set to assume the Presidency come Monday.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed this moment as historic for Bulgaria and Romania, emphasizing that citizens of these nations will soon enjoy the freedom to cross international sea and air borders without encountering checks.

Currently comprising 27 countries over an area exceeding 4 million square kilometers and a population of almost 420 million, the Schengen zone is set to expand. With the addition of Romania and Bulgaria, it will encompass 4.5 million square kilometers and a collective population of 450 million individuals. Photo by EasyPASS MUC.jpg: Bis gleich am Teich! Devilfighter_de, Wikimedia commons.