Austria has long stood in the way of Romania and Bulgaria's full membership in the EU's prized zone of free movement. That appears to finally be changing.

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 on track to become full members of the Schengen Area as early as January 2025, according to Hungarian officials. This development comes after years of partial inclusion for the two Balkan nations,

Thanks to the support of Hungary in the European Union, Romania is ready to enter the Schengen zone from January 1, 2025, Azernews

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.

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.

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.

Romania is set to fully join the Schengen Area on January 1, 2025, as confirmed by Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu following discussions with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest on November 22,