Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 03:56pm on 13 Dec 2024,Friday International
The EU has approved Bulgaria and Romania's full membership in the Schengen zone, effective January 2025, ending a 13-year wait. Austria lifted its veto after signing a border protection package, addressing concerns over illegal immigration. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis called the move a “strategic objective,” promising reduced border wait times and economic growth. Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter hailed it as a “historic moment.” Schengen now has 29 members, enabling free travel for over 400M people. The agreement includes joint border guards at Bulgaria's Turkish border and temporary land controls, ensuring enhanced migration management.
