Brussels: The Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union announced that the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) has completed preparations for the Council’s decision to remove internal land border checks with Bulgaria and Romania starting on January 1 next year. In a significant move towards European integration, this development marks a pivotal step in the enlargement of the Schengen Area.
According to About Hungary, the announcement was made via a video message posted on the X platform by the Hungarian Presidency. The message highlighted the results of a successful ministerial meeting held in Budapest last week, where Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, and Austria reached an agreement on a border protection package. Bálint Ódor, the chief of Hungary’s Permanent Representation to the EU, emphasized the importance of this decision, describing it as a key milestone for Hungary.
Ódor noted that the Hungarian Presidency has been instrumental in advancing the Schengen accession process for Bul
garia and Romania since its first presidency in 2011. Now, during its second presidency, Hungary is on the verge of completing this process. He stressed that lifting internal land border checks between the two member states is a top priority for Hungary, underscoring the benefits such a move would bring in terms of unity, free movement, and resilience across the EU.
Additionally, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán declared in Budapest last Friday that EU interior ministers are set to vote on December 12 regarding a Hungarian proposal to include Romania and Bulgaria in the Schengen agreement. This forthcoming vote will be crucial in determining the finalization of their integration into the Schengen Area.
