Romania and Bulgaria partly join Schengen area after thirteen-year-long wait

A veto from Austria means the new status will not apply for land routes, due to concerns of an influx of refugees.

Transcript

00:00 Citizens of Bulgaria and Romania can now travel passport-free via sea and air as the two countries

00:10 join Europe's Schengen area. A veto imposed by Austria, however, means these rules will

00:15 not apply to land routes, where residents will have to carry passports.

00:20 There was concerns about migration, with Vienna worried that passport-free travel would create

00:25 an influx of refugees. Both countries have promised to strengthen border controls upon

00:31 joining Schengen. Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU in 2007 and waited 13 years to join

00:39 the border-free zone. The EU concluded both were ready to join in 2011, but a decision

00:45 was not made until 2023. With Romania and Bulgaria joining, the Schengen zone will now

00:52 comprise of 29 members.