Budapest was the stage of a major breakthrough in Schengen after Austria agreed to lifts its veto on Romania and Bulgaria's accession.
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00:00Austria lifts its veto, allowing Romania and Bulgaria to join the European Schengen Free Movement area.
00:08The agreement was signed in Budapest between the three countries and will be formalized at the next Home Affairs Council in Brussels in December.
00:19European Commissioner for Home Affairs Jilva Johansson explained from Hungary.
00:24This is a great day to achieve the full freedom for all the citizens of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area and I'm very happy today.
00:36Johansson expects it to be operational by January 2025.
00:41The European Commission recommended back in 2011 that both Romania and Bulgaria should be allowed access to Schengen.
00:48But final decision depended on the EU countries that vetoed their entry for years.
00:54Free movement by air and sea was finally allowed a year ago and came into force last March.
01:02Austria, however, continued to block land movement.
01:07And in a few weeks, free movement for Romanians and Bulgarians will finally become a reality.
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