Sofia: Eighteen years after joining the European Union, Bulgaria and Romania on Wednesday became full members of the visa-free Schengen Area.
At the turn of the year, border controls on land were lifted, months after restrictions on sea borders and airports were removed last March. Both countries acceded to the EU on January 1, 2007. In Kulata on the border with Greece, Bulgarian Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev, hailed the move as a “historic event.” A ceremonial raising of the barriers took place on New Year’s Eve at the Romanian-Bulgarian border crossing Giurgiu-Russe with the countries’ interior ministers.
A similar ceremony at the Romanian-Hungarian motorway border crossing was attended by high-ranking police officers from both sides. Travellers by car and train between Romania and Hungary no longer have to show documents at the 17 official border crossings. Checks will also no longer be carried out at the previous six border crossings on the Bulgarian-Greek border. (DPA)
