The Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) has finalised the preparation of the Council Decision to lift internal land border checks with Bulgaria and Romania (i.e. for the two countries to join the Schengen Zone) starting on 1 January next year, the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union said on Wednesday.
In a video message posted on the X platform, the Presidency said that “after last week’s successful ministerial meeting in Budapest” where Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and Austria agreed on a border protection package, “today marks a key step towards European integration and the enlargement of the Schengen Area”.
Bálint Ódor, the chief of Hungary’s Permanent Representation to the EU, said in the video that “the decision we just made in Coreper is an important milestone that holds special significance for Hungary”.
“During our first presidency in 2011, we played a key role in advancing the Schengen accession of both Bulgaria and Romania. Now during the second presidency, we have the honour of completing this process. Lifting checks on persons at internal land borders and between those two member states is a top priority for the Hungarian presidency.”
“With the decision of today, we made the final preparatory step in order to make it a reality. With this decision, we will strengthen unity, free movement and resilience across the EU. It is a win for Bulgaria, Romania and all of Europe!” he said.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced in Budapest last Friday that EU interior ministers will vote on Dec 12 regarding a Hungarian proposal to allow Romania and Bulgaria to join the Schengen agreement.
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