The European Commission has confirmed that both Romania and Bulgaria meet all technical requirements for Schengen entry, but their accession has faced resistance from some member states.

This meeting aims to develop a joint action plan and additional measures following the partial Schengen membership of Romania and Bulgaria.

Currently, Romania awaits Austria to lift its veto, while Bulgaria needs to gain the Netherlands' approval to join Schengen.

Romania and Bulgaria are set to officially join the Schengen Zone as full members starting January 1, 2025, according to Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.

Romania estimates it loses €10 billion annually due to its lack of full Schengen membership, while Bulgaria claims a loss of nearly €1 billion last year for the same reason.

The upcoming meeting of interior ministers from Austria, Romania, and Bulgaria on November 22, 2024, in Budapest is considered crucial for finalizing the accession.

Ciolacu emphasized that the Dutch parliament, which previously opposed Bulgaria's accession, must approve the necessary documentation for full membership.

Despite meeting technical criteria since 2011, Romania and Bulgaria's accession faced opposition, particularly from Austria over migration concerns and from the Netherlands regarding Bulgaria.

Since March 2024, Romania and Bulgaria have been part of the Schengen area for air and sea travel, following a partial agreement with Austria.

Land border crossings have been a significant issue, with truckers facing delays of up to 30 hours at the Romanian-Bulgarian border.

The ministers aim to finalize the decision on the abolition of internal land borders for both countries by the end of 2024.

The Schengen accession issue is politically significant, with the main opposition party, the National Liberal Party (PNL), campaigning on this topic.