Balgarianovinite.com On January 1, 2026, Bulgaria marks one year since becoming a full member of the Schengen Area. On December 12, 2024, the Council of the European Union decided to lift checks at the land Schengen borders of Bulgaria and Romania. Bulgaria and Romania had waited to accede Schengen since 2010, when the EU Council confirmed that they had met the legal requirements. In the years that followed, despite this assessment and repeated calls by the European Commission (EC) and the European Parliament (EP), the necessary unanimity in the Council of the EU was not achieved.
As of March 31, 2024, both Bulgaria and Romania have been fully applying the Schengen acquis. Controls at the internal air and maritime borders with Bulgaria and Romania were also removed from that date. This decision was taken during the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU on December 30, 2023.
On January 1, 2025, Bulgaria became a full member of the Schengen Area.
Despite concerns that Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen and the removal of border controls would lead to increased migratory pressure, this did not happen. On December 22, the Director of the Border Police, Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov, reported that in 2025 there was a 70% decrease in migratory pressure, a significant increase in detected smuggling-related crimes, a record number of dismantled criminal groups involved in migrant trafficking, and other positive results.
“We are seeing out the first year since Bulgaria was admitted to the Schengen Area by land as well. In doing so, we have ensured economic prosperity for our country, and while others are resting, you are out there protecting the borders,” Chief Commissioner Zlatanov said, addressing officers of the directorate.
In October 2025, the Council of Ministers approved the establishment of a National Mechanism for Coordination and Control of the implementation of the Schengen acquis in Bulgaria.
The new mechanism will carry out continuous monitoring of the effective and correct implementation of Schengen legislation in Bulgaria. It will include senior political-level representatives from all institutions involved in applying Schengen rules.
Among the mechanism’s main tasks are resolving coordination issues, taking follow-up measures based on findings and recommendations from Schengen evaluations, and strengthening the country’s administrative capacity for full participation in Schengen cooperation. The mechanism will be headed by a national Schengen coordinator – the Deputy Minister of the Interior responsible for EU affairs. Its work will be supported by six thematic groups, led by the relevant structures within the Ministry of Interior and other agencies. The establishment of the mechanism aims to ensure consistency and continuity in implementing the Schengen acquis in Bulgaria.
A few days later, Minister of Interior Daniel Mitov said that Bulgaria will soon undergo its first periodic Schengen evaluation as a full member. “We expect positive results that will demonstrate the excellent preparedness of our personnel in applying Schengen legislation.”
According to him, Schengen contributes to economic development, the transport sector, and tourism, facilitates the movement of goods, and helps promote Bulgaria as a tourist destination. He added that the positive effects will have a long-term impact and are expected to grow over time. Bulgaria Marks One Year as Full Schengen Member 2025 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-01-01 09:16:20 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
