Romania and Bulgaria join Schengen in March: flying to Sofia and Bucharest becomes easier

From the next March, who will fly from Italy to Romania and Bulgaria will be able to do so Without having to go through passport control outbound and inbound to the two Eastern European countries. Romania and Bulgaria have in fact been Allowed among 'Schengen countries,' although only for those arriving there by air (and by sea).

Similarly, citizens of Romania and Bulgaria will be able to travel by air within the Schengen area without having to go through passport control.

Previously, Austria had been the one to oppose to the inclusion of Romania and Bulgaria in the Schengen area for fears related to illegal immigration. In mid-December, however, Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner had announced a softening of Vienna's stance, opening up passport-free travel by air from the two countries in exchange for tighter border security measures.

The agreement was formalized last Dec. 23 and announced just after Christmas by Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and Bulgarian 'colleague' Nicolaj Denkov.

From March will thus rise to 24 European Union member states where you will be able to fly as if you were staying within national borders. To these Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein and Switzerland are added., which are not part of the EU but have joined the Schengen Treaty, and the three micro-states of Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican. A fourth micro-state, Andorra (in the Pyrenees between France and Spain), is not part of either the EU or the Schengen area. The only country that is part of the EU but still excluded from Schengen is Cyprus.

From Italy, people fly to Romania and Bulgaria from different citiesà, with connections operated by Ryanair, Wizz Air, Ita Airways (to Bulgaria only), Tarom, Bulgaria Air and Aeroitalia (to Romania only).