### [2024-12-12](/feed/2024/12/12/index.md)

##### Enlargement of the European Union
# The European Union approves of Romania and Bulgaria to join the Schengen Area in 2025. 




### Sources:

1. [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/12/eu-states-approve-full-schengen-membership-for-bulgaria-romania)
2. [Euronews](https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/12/12/romania-and-bulgaria-are-granted-full-schengen-membership-with-one-caveat)

### Related:

1. [Bulgaria and Romania partially join the Schengen Area, allowing travel by air and sea without border checks, Austria vetoed travel by land without border checks over fears that non-EU citizens could get easier access to the European Union. ](/feed/2024/03/31/bulgaria-and-romania-partially-join-the-schengen-area-allowing-travel-by-air-and-sea-without-border-checks-austria-vet.md) _Context: Bulgaria, Romania, Schengen Area_
2. [Bulgaria and Romania reach an agreement with Austria to become members of the Schengen Area through sea and air routes in March, with discussions regarding the opening of land borders scheduled to begin next year. ](/feed/2023/12/28/bulgaria-and-romania-reach-an-agreement-with-austria-to-become-members-of-the-schengen-area-through-sea-and-air-routes-i.md) _Context: Bulgaria, Romania, Schengen Area_
3. [Ukraine’s foreign ministry expresses opposition to a continuation of European Union import restrictions on its grain after member states including Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary supported an extension. ](/feed/2023/08/26/ukraine-s-foreign-ministry-expresses-opposition-to-a-continuation-of-european-union-import-restrictions-on-its-grain-aft.md) _Context: Bulgaria, European Union, Romania_
4. [Austria announces that it will veto Bulgaria and Romania's accession to the Schengen Area, citing fears of increased illegal immigration. ](/feed/2022/12/8/austria-announces-that-it-will-veto-bulgaria-and-romania-s-accession-to-the-schengen-area-citing-fears-of-increased-ill.md) _Context: Bulgaria, Romania, Schengen Area_
5. [Negotiations on the accession of North Macedonia and Albania to the European Union begin in Brussels. ](/feed/2022/07/19/negotiations-on-the-accession-of-north-macedonia-and-albania-to-the-european-union-begin-in-brussels.md) _Context: Enlargement of the European Union, European Union_
6. [The European Union formally awards official candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova. ](/feed/2022/06/23/the-european-union-formally-awards-official-candidate-status-to-ukraine-and-moldova.md) _Context: Enlargement of the European Union, European Union_
7. [The European Parliament votes to end visa-free travel for United States citizens after the U.S. government failed to agree to visa-free travel for citizens of five European Union member states, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania. The resolution is non-binding. ](/feed/2017/03/3/the-european-parliament-votes-to-end-visa-free-travel-for-united-states-citizens-after-the-us-government-failed-to-agr.md) _Context: Bulgaria, European Union, Romania_
8. [Bosnia and Herzegovina formally applies to join the European Union. ](/feed/2016/02/15/bosnia-and-herzegovina-formally-applies-to-join-the-european-union.md) _Context: Enlargement of the European Union, European Union_
9. [Greece faces suspension or expulsion from the European Union's Schengen Area if it can not prevent waves of migrants from crossing over the country into Macedonia. ](/feed/2016/01/25/greece-faces-suspension-or-expulsion-from-the-european-union-s-schengen-area-if-it-can-not-prevent-waves-of-migrants-fro.md) _Context: European Union, Schengen Area_
10. [A train hits a van at a level crossing near Rossano, Province of Cosenza, Calabria region, Italy, killing at least six workers from Romania and Bulgaria. ](/feed/2012/11/25/a-train-hits-a-van-at-a-level-crossing-near-rossano-province-of-cosenza-calabria-region-italy-killing-at-least-six-w.md) _Context: Bulgaria, Romania_