Romania and Bulgaria have been approved to join the EU’s Schengen border-free zone, effective January 1, 2025, allowing unrestricted travel across much of Europe without passports. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed the decision as a joyous moment for the 25 million citizens of both nations. However, truck drivers face ongoing bureaucratic hurdles, as Hungary plans to maintain border checks for at least six months, and new fees are introduced for truck access in Bulgaria.