The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has called on the European Union Council to set a date for full membership of Bulgaria and Romania in the Schengen Zone.
The advisory body of the European Union (EU) approved a draft opinion by the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) vice-president, Maria Mincheva, which highlights the economic costs of keeping the two Balkan countries outside the Schengen Area, Schengen.News reports.
The document clearly outlines the negative impact on businesses, workers, consumers, and the investment climate in Bulgaria and Romania, which have met all Schengen criteria since 2011 for full border control removal — by air, sea, and land.
There is a €90 million financial loss for Bulgaria remaining outside Schengen
Bulgaria and Romania became partial members of the Schengen Zone since March 31 this year. They joined Schengen by air and sea routes, land border controls are yet to be abolished.
But the countries say that remaining outside Schenge’s land borders unfair and causing them financial losses.
According to the draft opinion, Bulgaria loses €90 million per year due to transport delays driven by border controls and €2.32 billion in annual revenue loss for the road transport sector.
According to a study by the Economic Research Institute of the Bulgarian Academy of Science, Bulgaria is subject to more than €834 million financial losses per year for being outside Schengen in terms of land borders.
By taking proactive steps toward the full integration of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area, the EU can strengthen internal cohesion, boost competitiveness, and uphold core principles of free movement and solidarity that are fundamental to the European project.
The document will be put to a final vote at the European Economic and Social Committee plenary session scheduled for next month. After that, it will be published in the EU’s Official Journal and formally submitted to the EU Council.
The progress of Bulgaria and Romania full Schengen membership was discussed by the Hungary, which currently holds the EU presidency at the Justice and Home Affairs meeting on October 10, but there was no vote.
Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said a meeting in the Justice and Home Affairs Council on December 13 will decide on the full membership of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Zone.
If members vote in favor, land border controls would be lifted by March 2025.
Romanian PM confident country will get full Schengen access in six months
