The event was marked at the border crossing point at Giurgiu-Ruse by the Romanian and Bulgarian Interior Ministers, Cătălin Predoiu and Atanas Ilkov. The two ministers together raised the barrier between the two countries, the moment unfolding to the tunes of the Ode to Joy, the anthem of the European Union.
"It is truly a historic moment, it is a moment full of political significance, but also with special practical consequences for every Romanian citizen, for Romanian and Bulgarian companies, for companies operating in the two countries, for our countries and for Europe. Romania and Bulgaria have successfully completed not only a national project, but also an important European project," said the Romanian Minister of Internal Affairs, a few minutes before Romania and Bulgaria entered the Schengen Area with land borders. He stated that the accession of the two states demonstrated that the European Union “remains a viable project, a project with a future”.
“By entering the Schengen area, Romania’s integration into the European Union is complete and irrevocable, it is an act of the present, but it is also an act full of the future for our countries and nations”, emphasized Cătălin Predoiu. Bulgarian Interior Minister Atanas Ilkov stated, at the ceremony organized at the border, that the accession of the two countries to the Schengen Area represents "a success", after 17 years in which both states worked on this project.
"It is a historic moment that we have achieved together over the years in which we have worked for this goal. I would like to thank Minister Predoiu in particular for the efforts he has made to reach the result we have at this moment. Between the two institutions, there has been more than just institutional trust, a partnership", said Atanas Ilkov.
Romania's Northern and Eastern borders became the external borders of the free movement zone, and here control measures will be stricter. From January 1, 2025 the Schengen area has 13 customs points on its external borders with Ukraine and Moldova.
As of January 1, Romania is closing 39 border crossings as a result of our country's full accession to the Schengen area. Six of them are in Bihor county (North-west). In practice, tourists and drivers carrying goods to Western Europe no longer waste time checking documents. 13 checkpoint in Timis county are also closed, at the border with Hungary. Checkpoint at the border with Serbia will remain.
Even after full Schengen accession, checks will not be totally absent, with border police officers being able to perform random checks. Romania got rid of its air and sea borders in March this year, but until now Romania's land access to the Schengen area has been blocked for two years by the visa imposed by Austria and the Netherlands.
SHOTLIST
***Pictures shot at midnight, checkpoint at the border between Romania and Bulgaria (Giurgiu-Ruse)***
- WS first car coming, Ode to joy playing;
- WS fireworks;
- MS Romanian and Bulgarian ministers for Internal Affairs watching as barrier is lifted;
- WS journalists surrounding first car to cross border at midnight;
- MS officers;
- MS officials listening to national anthems;
- MS checkpoint booths;
- CU checkpoint booth window;
- MS Romanian Interior minister talking to driver, giving him a certificate, then Bulgarian Interior minister shaking hand with the
driver;
- VOXPOP (Romanian) driver: "It's a historic moment, to be honest, I felt I was already in Schengen."
- SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Bulgarian minister for Internal Affairs, Atanas Ilkov: "It is a historic moment that we have achieved together over the years in which we have worked for this goal."
- white flash;
- SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Bulgarian minister for Internal Affairs, Atanas Ilkov: "I would like to thank Romanian and Bulgarian citizens for this success we share together, from now on they can enjoy freedom of movement, as there will be no more terrestrial checks at this point."
- SOUNDBITE (Romanian) Catalin Predoiu, Romanian minister for Internal Affairs: "It is truly a historic moment."
- white flash;
- SOUNDBITE (Romanian) Catalin Predoiu, Romanian minister for Internal Affairs: "It is a moment full of political meanings but also having practical consequences for every Romanian citizen, for Romanian and Bulgarian companies, for companies operating in these two countries, for our countries and for Europe."
- white flash;
- SOUNDBITE (Romanian) Catalin Predoiu, Romanian minister for Internal Affairs: "Romania and Bulgaria have successfully completed not only a national project, but also an important European project. By entering the Schengen area, Romania’s integration into the European Union is complete and irrevocable, it is an act of the present, but it is also an act full of the future for our countries and nations."
- WS Romanian and Bulgarian ministers greeting another driver, giving her a certificate stating they crossed terrestrial border, marking access to Schengen area;
