Bratislava – On Thursday, Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanár (Smer-SD) expressed strong support for the full inclusion of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area, calling it a historic decision that Slovakia has long advocated. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs communicated this information to TASR.
Starting January 1, 2025, Romania and Bulgaria will officially join the Schengen zone, leading to the elimination of border checks at their internal land borders.
“This long-awaited advancement provides practical advantages for residents, allowing them to travel to two additional European countries without the hassle of border controls,” Blanár stated upon his return from a working trip to Brazil. He described the EU Council’s decision as a pivotal moment for European cooperation and a significant achievement of Hungary’s current presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Minister Blanár also acknowledged the difficulties facing the Schengen area amid the ongoing migration crisis. “The primary focus should be on facilitating free movement for citizens. However, some member states have implemented and continue to extend border control measures. It is evident today that Schengen is not operating at its full potential, and considerable efforts are essential to restore its functionality,” he stressed. In this regard, he underscored Bulgaria and Romania’s commitment to maintaining effective protection of external borders and combating illegal migration.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that the Schengen area will expand to 29 countries, encompassing nearly 450 million residents beginning January 1, 2025. This European free movement zone will connect 25 of the 27 EU member states (excluding Cyprus and Ireland) as well as all members of the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland). Slovakia became a part of the Schengen zone in 2007. (December 12)
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