A veto from Austria means the new status will not apply for land routes, due to concerns of an influx of refugees.
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00:00 Citizens of Bulgaria and Romania can now travel passport-free via sea and air as the two countries
00:10 join Europe's Schengen area. A veto imposed by Austria, however, means these rules will
00:15 not apply to land routes, where residents will have to carry passports.
00:20 There was concerns about migration, with Vienna worried that passport-free travel would create
00:25 an influx of refugees. Both countries have promised to strengthen border controls upon
00:31 joining Schengen. Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU in 2007 and waited 13 years to join
00:39 the border-free zone. The EU concluded both were ready to join in 2011, but a decision
00:45 was not made until 2023. With Romania and Bulgaria joining, the Schengen zone will now
00:52 comprise of 29 members.