After years of negotiations, Bulgaria and Romania have become members of Europe’s Schengen zone, but with a limit. At Austria’s insistence, it only applies to air and sea borders for the two now, with land borders to be discussed later this year.
The zone, named for the Luxembourg town where its basic agreement was signed in 1985, eliminates border controls for travelers among its member states. With the accession of Bulgaria and Romania, Ireland and Cyprus are the only EU member that do not belong to Schengen. Four non-EU countries are also members: Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
For all practical purposes, the Zone also includes a number of microstates surrounded by or abutting Schengen members and which have open borders with them. These are Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City. The addition of the two countries also now gives Greece a land connection to the rest of the zone.
Austria’s long objection is based on a perception that the two have allowed illegal immigration into Austria. The struggle over the issue has put Austria at odds with its fellow members and has led to strained relations between it and Romania.
