The two countries are among the poorest in Europe: the average monthly income in Bulgaria is around 125 euro, and in Romania around 100 euro. The EU is also concerned with widespread corruption in ...

Romania and Bulgaria have become full members of the European Union’s border-free Schengen area after scrapping land border controls in the bloc.

The Schengen Area was established in 1985. Before Bulgaria and Romania’s admission, Schengen consisted of 23 of the 27 EU member countries, along with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.