Romania and Bulgaria, both European Union and NATO members, partly joined Schengen in March, after an agreement with Austria, which initially opposed their joining on the grounds they needed to do more to prevent illegal immigration.
While air and maritime border checks between them and the other 27 countries in the travel zone were lifted, negotiations with Austria over land entry have continued through 2024.
“The two countries have made significant steps to gain full membership,” Hungarian Interior Minister Sándor Pintér told a news conference after talks with his Romanian, Bulgarian and Austrian counterparts.
“We are...one step closer to Bulgaria and Romania becoming full members of Schengen.”
Pintér said a package of security measures would be presented at a meeting of EU interior ministers on December 11, including arrangements for at least 100 border guards to protect the border between Turkey and Bulgaria.
Romania and Bulgaria are on major routes for the illegal trade in arms and drugs as well as human trafficking, but the European Commission said after a thorough investigation they met all Schengen requirements.
Romania has described Austrian opposition as unjustified, citing data from border agency Frontex showing illegal migrants have mainly entered the EU from the Western Balkans, not Romania.
