On 1 January 2025, Romania and Bulgaria entered the Schengen area. The Schengen Area is an area comprising 29 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. Of the 27 EU member states, 25 participate in the Schengen Area. Cyprus and Ireland do not at this time. The four European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, have signed agreements in association with the Schengen Agreement.

This report provides illustration photos of the free border passage between Romania and Bulgaria at the Calafat (Romania) – Vidin (Bulgaria) bridge over the Danube river.