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Romania and Bulgaria Officially Join the EU’s Schengen Zone

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

January 6, 2025

As of Wednesday, January 1, 2025, Romania and Bulgaria have become full members of the European Union’s Schengen free-travel area, marking a historic expansion of the bloc. Land border controls were officially scrapped, allowing residents to travel seamlessly across participating countries without passport checks.

A Celebratory Moment at the Danube

Fireworks illuminated the night sky at the Friendship Bridge, a key crossing over the Danube River near the Bulgarian town of Ruse, as the interior ministers of both nations symbolically lifted the barrier at midnight. This crossing, a critical route for international trade, is often plagued by bottlenecks, but the removal of land checks is expected to ease congestion.

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“This is a historic moment,” declared Bulgarian Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev. “From Greece in the south to Finland in the north and as far west as Portugal, we can now travel without borders.”

A Long Road to Schengen Membership

Although border checks for air and sea travel were removed in March 2024, land checks had remained in place until Austria recently lifted its veto. Austria had previously argued that additional measures were needed to curb irregular migration.

Romania and Bulgaria’s journey to Schengen membership has been long, as they faced years of opposition despite meeting the technical criteria. The recent development is a major milestone, cementing their place in the EU’s free-travel area.

Schengen: A Borderless Vision

The Schengen area, initially established in 1985 between France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, now encompasses 25 of the EU’s 27 member states, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

However, not all EU countries participate. Ireland has opted out, and Cyprus remains outside the Schengen zone. Despite being an EU member since 2004, Cyprus faces challenges in meeting all the technical requirements for Schengen membership, partly due to its complex political situation. These challenges include strengthening border security and immigration controls.

Cyprus continues to work towards full Schengen membership, but the political and logistical factors involved present significant hurdles, and the timeline for its integration remains uncertain.

This historic expansion of the Schengen area, however, reinforces the EU’s vision of a borderless Europe, further uniting the bloc and streamlining travel and trade across its member states.

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European Central Bank Report Highlights Stable Inflation and Economic Outlook

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 29, 2025

Overview Of Inflation Trends

The latest European Central Bank survey shows a slight decline in median inflation expectations over the next 12 months, decreasing from 2.8% in August to 2.7% in September. Despite this minor adjustment, consumer perceptions of past 12-month inflation have held steady at 3.1% for the eighth consecutive month. Long-term projections for three- and five-year inflation remain stable at 2.5% and 2.2% respectively.

Consumer Expectations Drive Income And Spending Projections

Across the board, expectations for nominal income growth over the upcoming year have remained consistent at 1.1%. However, there is a noticeable shift in spending behavior: while perceived nominal spending growth for the past year slipped slightly to 4.9% from 5.0%, expectations for spending growth over the next 12 months rose to 3.5%. Notably, lower income groups continue to forecast marginally higher spending increases compared to their higher income counterparts.

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Stability In Economic And Labour Market Outlook

Economic growth expectations are modestly pessimistic, with respondents forecasting a contraction of -1.2% over the next 12 months. Concurrently, anticipated unemployment levels remain unchanged at 10.7% a year ahead, though the outlook varies by income, with lower income households expecting unemployment rates as high as 12.7%, while higher income groups maintain expectations around 9.4%. Overall, the slight difference between current and future unemployment suggests a broadly stable labor market outlook.

Housing Market And Credit Conditions

The survey also reveals an upswing in expectations related to the housing market. Home price growth expectations have edged higher to 3.5%, and anticipated mortgage interest rates have risen modestly to 4.6%. Similar to other metrics, expectations vary by income, with lower income households expecting higher mortgage rates. In recent months, a marginal decline in reported credit tightening over the past 12 months contrasts with a renewed forecast of tighter credit conditions in the forthcoming year.

Conclusion

The ECB’s latest findings underscore the delicate balance between stable long-term economic forecasts and short-term adjustments in consumer expectations. The slight dips in inflation expectations, alongside stable perceptions of past inflation, delineate a marketplace that is both cautious and measured. As income, spending, and housing market metrics continue to evolve, these indicators provide critical insights for policymakers and investors navigating an increasingly complex economic landscape.