SOFIA (Reuters) – Airports in Sofia and Bucharest on Sunday removed passport control points for those departing or arriving from most European Union member states as Bulgaria and Romania partially joined the Schengen open travel zone.
The two countries reached an agreement late last year to join the European free travel area by air and sea after Austria opposed full membership, including land passages, saying Romania and Bulgaria had to do more to prevent illegal immigration.
“Of course this is a very nice result for Bulgaria which makes things easier for us Bulgarians,” said Mincho Yurukov, who arrived at Sofia Airport from Berlin.
“Also we feel European, this is a very important thing, flying is much nicer, without controls.”
The outgoing government’s Interior Minister, Kalin Stoyanov, told reporters on Sunday that Bulgaria is expected to become a full member of the Schengen area by the end of this year, meaning that border control posts will be removed for people and goods traveling by road and rail. .
The Romanian Prime Minister also said that the country expects to conclude negotiations on land borders this year.
“I welcome the abolition of internal air and sea border controls. This is a great success for both countries,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
“Together we are building a stronger and more united Europe for all our citizens,” he said.
Bulgaria and Romania have joined a regional police initiative with Austria, Greece and Slovakia to stem the flow of migrants.
The European Union’s border agency Frontex said last month it would triple the number of its officers in Bulgaria to help contain the number of people entering the bloc from Turkey.