BRUSSELS: The European Union has officially approved Romania and Bulgaria's entry into the Schengen Area, concluding a negotiation process that began over a decade ago. The two countries will become members of the passport-free zone starting January 1, marking a significant expansion of the area. According to Qatar News Agency, the decision was announced following a meeting of EU interior ministries. Hungary, currently presiding over the European Council, hailed the accession as a significant triumph for both Romania and Bulgaria, as well as for the broader European community. Initially, major EU countries like Germany and France opposed the joint candidacy of the two nations, but over time, opposition waned, leaving only the Netherlands and Austria as holdouts. Austria, which had been the most significant opponent, eventually lifted its veto on the accession during a meeting held in Budapest last month. This move cleared the way for the final approval, representing a pivotal moment in the lengthy negotiati on process. Although checkpoints on sea and air borders have already been removed earlier this year, land border checkpoints between Hungary and Romania, and between Romania and Bulgaria, will remain operational for at least another six months. This is in accordance with the stipulations outlined in the accession agreement.