CNN
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Romania and Bulgaria have become full members of the border-free Schengen Area after abolishing land border controls within the European Union.
The expansion was officially introduced late Wednesday night, with celebrations held at border crossings in some countries.
“Welcome to Schengen, Bulgaria and Romania!” the European Parliament wrote in a post on Wednesday.
“From today, there will be no checks when traveling across land borders between Bulgaria or Romania and Schengen countries,” it added.
Just before midnight, the Bulgarian and Romanian interior ministers symbolically raised the Danube Bridge barrier, according to Reuters. Also known as the Friendship Bridge, it connects the two countries and is an important transit point for international trade. Fireworks were also set off near the border town of Ruse, where the bridge enters Bulgaria.
The two former communist countries lifted air and sea travel controls in March and partially joined the Schengen Area. However, debate over land border control continued.
The last barrier to full membership was lifted last month when Austria overturned its veto, saying more steps were needed to stop irregular migration, Reuters reported.
The European Commission previously welcomed the expansion of the Schengen area, saying it would “make the EU stronger as a union both internally and globally”.
The region currently includes 25 of the 27 EU member states, excluding Cyprus and Ireland. Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are also eligible.
According to the European Commission, this will enable free movement for more than 425 million EU nationals and non-EU nationals living or visiting the region.
Citizens within this area will also be able to travel, work, and live without any special procedures.
According to the commission, the Schengen Area is the world’s largest area of free movement.
The plan has occasionally caused friction between member states, including over flashpoints such as security and immigration.
In September, Germany opted to temporarily reintroduce restrictions along all land borders as part of a crackdown on immigration.
Member States can temporarily reintroduce border controls at their internal borders in the event of a serious threat to public policy or internal security.
