Bulgaria Gains Partial Schengen Access Via Air And Sea: What Does It Mean?

After more than a decade of anticipation, Bulgaria, together with Romania, has finally gained entry into the Schengen area. However, the initial approval, effective from March 2024, is limited to air and sea routes exclusively. This development signifies the end of passport checks for flights connecting Bulgaria to the broader European landscape, promising smoother travel processes.

The Council of the European Union, following a prolonged evaluation of their compliance, granted Schengen membership to Bulgaria and Romania on December 30, 2023, confirming their alignment with criteria established 12 years ago by the European Commission. Yet, despite this milestone, the relaxation of border checks currently applies solely to air and sea routes, leaving intact the land border controls within the Schengen zone.

Barriers raised by Austria and the Netherlands had previously obstructed Bulgaria's Schengen aspirations, leading to delays in the full integration of Sofia and Bucharest. However, in December 2023, both countries withdrew their objections, with Austria imposing specific conditions for the eventual removal of land border controls.

The long-awaited accession of Bulgaria into the Schengen sphere prompts discussions on the practical implications and the conditions set forth by Austria, particularly regarding the complete abolition of border controls, specifically at land crossings.

What is Schengen and why is it important?

The Schengen Area refers to a zone comprising 27 European countries (4 of which are non-EU members: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) that have abolished passport and other types of border controls at their mutual borders, essentially functioning as a single entity with no internal...