Hungarian officials say Bulgaria and Romania could become full members of Europe’s Schengen travel zone starting at the beginning of 2025.

Romania and Bulgaria may become full members of Europe's borderless Schengen travel zone in January 2025, Hungary said on Friday, adding a final decision would be made at next month's meeting of EU interior ministers.

Romania and Bulgaria are likely to become full members of the Schengen area on Jan. 1, 2025, according to reports from Romanian media on Friday.

Austria has dropped its long-standing veto to Bulgaria and Romania joining the passport free Schengen zone, opening the door to their accession next year.

A meeting of interior ministers of Hungary, Austria, Romania and Bulgaria in Budapest on November 22 has resulted in a joint declaration that includes a pledge for European Union ministers to

Romania and Bulgaria are expected to fully join the European Union's Schengen area starting Jan. 1, 2025, reports said Friday. The two countries

Romania and Bulgaria will fully join Europe's open-borders Schengen area from January 2025 after a crucial meeting in neighbouring Hungary on Friday, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Monday.

On 22 November in Budapest, the interior ministers of Bulgaria, Romania and Austria signed a declaration on the full accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area.

By Denitsa Koseva in Sofia Austria agreed on November 22 to lift its veto on the full accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen zone as of January next year, the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union said in a statement.