LBCI

Romania, Bulgaria fully join EU's borderless Schengen zone

World News

01-01-2025 | 05:50

Share

Share

Romania, Bulgaria fully join EU's borderless Schengen zone

Romania and Bulgaria scrapped land border controls to become full members of the European Union's Schengen free-travel area on Wednesday, joining an expanded bloc of countries whose residents can travel without passport checks.

Fireworks lit the sky at a crossing close to the Bulgarian border town of Ruse just after the stroke of midnight as the Bulgarian and Romanian interior ministers symbolically raised a barrier on the Friendship Bridge straddling the Danube River. The crossing is a major transit point for international trade.

Checks on travelling by air and sea from Bulgaria and Romania were lifted in March 2024, but land checks continued until Austria last month dropped a veto it had maintained on the grounds that more was needed to stop irregular migration.

Reuters

World News

Romania

Bulgaria

EU

Schengen

Next

Afghanistan earthquake death toll rises to 622

Recommended For You

Rubio calls for 'immediate release' of 700 Cuban political prisoners

14:34

Rubio calls for 'immediate release' of 700 Cuban political prisoners

After Gaza, German leader urges Trump to broker Ukraine peace deal

09:06

After Gaza, German leader urges Trump to broker Ukraine peace deal

Trump receives standing ovation at Israeli parliament

06:11

Trump receives standing ovation at Israeli parliament

Zelensky asks for air defenses, missiles in Macron call

2025-10-12

Zelensky asks for air defenses, missiles in Macron call

Subscribe to our VOD

SUBSCRIBE

Our visitors readings

Israel issues evacuation warning ahead of strike on Gaza City high-rise

Israel-Gaza War Updates

2025-09-06

Israel issues evacuation warning ahead of strike on Gaza City high-rise

Trump praises Lebanon’s new president during Knesset address

08:59

Trump praises Lebanon’s new president during Knesset address

Rubio calls for 'immediate release' of 700 Cuban political prisoners

14:34

Rubio calls for 'immediate release' of 700 Cuban political prisoners

Israeli airstrikes hit multiple areas in eastern Lebanon

2025-09-11

Israeli airstrikes hit multiple areas in eastern Lebanon

Videos

Meet Miss Lebanon 2025 contestants: Video

2025-10-04

Meet Miss Lebanon 2025 contestants: Video

Series of Israeli airstrikes spark massive fire in southern Lebanon

2025-10-03

Series of Israeli airstrikes spark massive fire in southern Lebanon

Lunar eclipse captivates Lebanon: watch the stunning video

2025-09-07

Lunar eclipse captivates Lebanon: watch the stunning video

Most read

24 hours

7 days

Month

Tests confirm contamination in Tannourine water after Health Ministry suspends company operations

1

Tests confirm contamination in Tannourine water after Health Ministry suspends company operations

Lebanese President says 'necessary to negotiate' with Israel

2

Lebanese President says 'necessary to negotiate' with Israel

Trump praises Lebanon’s new president during Knesset address

3

Trump praises Lebanon’s new president during Knesset address

Gaza peace summit leaves Lebanon on the sidelines: Can Beirut balance pragmatism and security?

4

Gaza peace summit leaves Lebanon on the sidelines: Can Beirut balance pragmatism and security?

Lindsey Graham: Lebanon must disarm Hezbollah to secure lasting regional peace

5

Lindsey Graham: Lebanon must disarm Hezbollah to secure lasting regional peace

Trump hails ‘great honor’ as he signs Knesset guest book

6

Trump hails ‘great honor’ as he signs Knesset guest book

Knesset protest briefly interrupts Trump speech

7

Knesset protest briefly interrupts Trump speech

US, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey sign Gaza declaration

8

US, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey sign Gaza declaration

Download now the LBCI mobile app

To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world

Google Play

App Store

Download now the LBCI mobile app

We use
cookies

We use cookies to make
your experience on this
website better.

Accept

Learn More