The European Union has unanimously decided that Romania and Bulgaria will fully join the Schengen Area by 2025, ending border checks that currently exist. Already, air and sea border controls have been lifted since March 2024. The decision came after Austria, which had previously blocked the accession citing migration concerns, lifted its veto, attributing the change to improved border protection. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser welcomed the expansion, emphasizing the importance of trust in the European Commission. Romania and Bulgaria have awaited this decision since joining the EU in 2007.