Romania and Bulgaria will become full members of the open border Schengen area from January 1 2025, EU home affairs ministers decided on Thursday. The decision to remove checks on persons at the internal land borders was made at the Home Affairs Council meeting in Brussels after Austria lifted its veto.

Romania and Bulgaria will become full members of Europe's Schengen free-travel area from next month, swelling the number of nations to 29, the EU said on Thursday.

By Denitsa Koseva in Sofia The Council of the European Union admitted Bulgaria and Romania to full membership of the Schengen area on December 12, deciding unanimously that land borders with the two countries will be lifted as of January 1,