Bulgaria and Romania join the Schengen
A closer Europe is a reason to be cheerful.
As of April, Bulgaria and Romania joined Schengen, the now 29 European countries that allow citizens to freely move.
Travelers arriving from another Schengen country by air or sea will not be subject to passport control. The rules for land travel will be established over the coming year.
The news slipped by relatively unnoticed. In the midst of a magnitude 7 earthquake, bridge collapses, and carnage in Gaza, it is hardly surprising.
The good news is a change of pace. And this is great news.
The ability to move and work freely is a goal worth striving for. It is a win-win that strengthens economies and expands citizens' personal freedoms.
As someone who recently moved to a Schengen country, I can attest to this. The anxiety of visas is a particularly cruel consequence of isolationist foreign policies. Visas mean that visiting family members can take months of planning. Or, if you are lucky enough to live together with your loved ones, you might be torn apart.
The right to move freely is the right to live freely.
The right to experience other cultures freely.
The right to love freely.
To me, this makes Europe the most attractive place to live and be a citizen. The extension of these rights to Romania and Bulgaria only makes it more so.
Of course, there are always detractors. But the response of the right wing pundits has been tepid this time around.
Support for the EU remains favourable, both within member states and globally. However, with populism on the rise across Europe, supporters of the European project should remain vigilant. We should celebrate our victories and highlight their positive aspects.
So, with that in mind.
Welcome, Bulgaria!
Welcome, Romania!
Here’s to a more accessible, more open world.
