Border Checks End as Romania Joins the Schengen Area

Hungarian and Romanian law enforcement leaders met at the Csanadpalota highway border crossing point to mark Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area, the National Police Headquarters announced on Wednesday, on the Police.hu website.

Police Lieutenant General Janos Balogh speaks at the symbolic opening of the Hungary-Romania state border at the Csanadpalota border crossing point, to mark Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area on December 31, 2024 (Photo: MTI / Zsolt Czegledi)

As of January 1, 2025, Bulgaria and Romania are full members of the Schengen Area, an achievementin which Hungary’s EU presidency and Prime Minister Viktor Orban played a pivotal role. Hunor Kelemen, president of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ), highlighted Mr. Orban’s and the Hungarian government’s dedication to facilitating Romania’s accession, which he described as a significant benefit for ethnic Hungarians living in Transylvania. Dimiter Glavchev, Bulgaria’s prime minister, also expressed gratitude to PM Orban for Hungary’s support in the process.

Cover Photo: Police Lieutenant General Janos Balogh speaks at the symbolic opening of the Hungary-Romania state border at the Csanadpalota border crossing point, to mark Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area on December 31, 2024 (Photo: MTI/Zsolt Czegledi)