Bulgaria and Romania join Schengen area - Kosovars travel visa-free
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the EU member states' decision to expand the Schengen area: "Today is a historic moment for Bulgaria and Romania. And a proud day for the Romanian and Bulgarian citizens," she said. Federal Chancellor Olaf Schoz (SPD) spoke of a "first step". Germany will continue to support "full integration" into the Schengen area, he said on X. "This is how Europe grows closer together!".
The visa-free zone of the Schengen area currently includes 27 European countries with around 400 million citizens. These include 23 EU countries and four partner states: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Romania and Bulgaria have been EU member states since 2007, but after a waiting period of more than ten years, the two countries had the door slammed in their faces again by the Schengen countries at the end of 2022.
Austria vetoed the admission at the time. The Alpine country has been criticizing the high number of irregular migrants on the so-called Balkan route for years and has called for better protection of the EU's external borders. The Netherlands also voted against Bulgaria's application.
At the beginning of December, however, the Austrian government offered to drop the Schengen borders for air traffic with Bulgaria and Romania in exchange for Brussels strengthening the EU's external borders through stricter border controls.
According to a further regulation that came into force on New Year's Day, Kosovars can now travel to the Schengen area for up to 90 days without a visa.
According to the EU Commission, Kosovo had already fulfilled all the conditions for visa-free entry into the Schengen area in 2018. However, the entry into force of the travel facilitation was blocked by France and the Netherlands, who feared a new wave of migration. The EU members Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain also opposed the reform. Like Serbia, these five countries do not recognize Kosovo's independence.
The Federal Foreign Office has now welcomed the visa-free regime as a "further important step" that will bring people closer to Europe.
The European embassies in Pristina, especially those with a particularly high number of visa requests, had prepared for the special day. German Ambassador Jörn Rohde was relieved to issue the last visas a few days ago - and invited the Kosovars to visit his country for the European Football Championship this summer.
Meanwhile, the presidency of the EU Council also passed from Spain to Belgium with the start of the new year. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wished the new presidency "good luck". She is looking forward to working together for "a stronger European democracy" and a "bigger, bolder Europe in the future", she said on X.
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- Although Switzerland is not an EU member state, it is included in the Schengen area's visa-free zone, along with Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
- Germany, like other EU member states, supports the full integration of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area for smoother travel.
- Recently, Kosovars were granted visa-free travel to the Schengen area, following their fulfillment of all necessary conditions, a decision that was previously blocked by France and the Netherlands.
- The Netherlands, along with Austria, had initially opposed Bulgaria's application to join the Schengen area due to concerns regarding irregular migrants.
- The SPD, Germany's Social Democratic Party, celebrates Bulgaria and Romania's admission to the Schengen area as a significant first step towards strengthening Europe's unity.
- The EU Commission's President, Ursula von der Leyen, voiced her support for Kosovo's advancements and welcomed the visa-free travel agreement as a positive development for Europe.
- Romania, having joined the EU in 2007, initially faced opposition from Schengen area countries in its pursuit of full membership, which was only granted at the end of 2022.
- Recently, the Netherlands made a proposal to Austria for easing Schengen border restrictions for Bulgaria and Romania in exchange for stronger EU external border controls.
- Liechtenstein, a small but wealthy nation located between Switzerland and Austria, is another European country that benefits from the Schengen agreement by offering its citizens visa-free travel to many European countries.
- The integration of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area has been met with approval by the EU Commission, which views it as a vital step towards expanding Europe's unity and removing internal borders.
- The Netherlands, having previously voted against Bulgaria's application to join the Schengen area, has since revised its stance and now supports the integration of both countries to facilitate more seamless travel within Europe.
Source: www.stern.de
