The government in Sofia has adopted a decision to introduce controls at the border with Romania for a period of six months, starting on January 1, 2025.
The Council of Ministers in Sofia adopted a decision on Wednesday regarding the temporary introduction of controls at the Bulgarian-Romanian internal border and the suspension of the functioning of border crossing points at the Bulgarian-Romanian and Bulgarian-Greek internal borders.
The decision aims to ensure the implementation of the quadripartite declaration between Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania, agreed on November 22 of this year in Budapest, as well as the Council Decision (European) on setting a date for the removal of controls on persons at the internal land borders with and between the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania, as reported by the BTA agency.
In accordance with the Quadripartite Declaration in Budapest, to prevent possible security threats arising from changes in migration patterns, which could occur as an immediate consequence of the absence of controls at internal borders, border controls will be carried out at border crossing points at the internal border with Romania for a period of six months starting on January 1, 2025, after which they will be suspended.
On December 12, the Council of the European Union decided that Romania and Bulgaria will join the Schengen Area, including the land borders, from January 1 next year, meaning that Romania and Bulgaria will become external borders of the Schengen Area.
The Bulgarian press has been presenting since December 12, when the decision of the European Council was made, that accordingly, measures will be taken at Bulgarian border crossing points.