Border controls to begin from January 1
It has been reported that Hungary will begin border controls with Romania, which is joining the European Union's (EU) visa-free Schengen area by land as of January 1, 2025.
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According to reports in the Hungarian press citing security forces, border controls with Romania will be reinstated for entries into the country starting January 1 in order to "prevent threats to public order and internal security."
Hungarian police warned travelers entering the country that random checks may be conducted and advised them to carry the necessary documents with them.
On the other hand, according to a report by the Bucharest-based newspaper Libertate, more than 30 border crossing points will be closed in Romania, which will also join the Schengen Area by land starting in the new year.
Random checks will continue mutually on the Bulgarian and Romanian border for 6 months.
Romania and Bulgaria joined the Schengen area by land on December 12.
BORDER CONTROLS BECOMING WIDESPREAD
The Schengen area, which is preparing to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the signing of its founding agreement next year, witnessed more border controls in 2024 than ever before since its establishment.
Citing growing concerns over security threats and irregular migration, France began controls on its land borders with neighbors Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland starting November 1.
Germany, which announced that it had reinstated temporary controls at its borders as of September 16 for similar reasons, reported that the controls covering its land borders with Austria, Poland, Czechia, Switzerland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Luxembourg would continue until March 15, 2025.
THOSE COUNTRIES DECIDED TO EXTEND
Following Germany's decision, Italy, Slovenia, Austria, and Denmark also decided to extend the duration of the border controls currently in effect.
The Netherlands became the latest country to announce that it would temporarily implement border controls with neighboring countries. Following the government's decision, only the borders with Belgium and Luxembourg were exempted from controls starting from the end of November.
While the border controls, which are being implemented by more EU countries every day, raise questions about the future of Schengen, experts warn that this situation, which negatively affects the "principle of free movement of individuals and goods," will have economic and political repercussions.