Romania, Bulgaria join EU border-free zone

The countries of Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union (EU) 17 years ago. Now they have been allowed to join the Schengen zone. It is a large free-travel area that shares common borders within European countries. People of some countries like France and Germany are allowed to cross the border without checking. Now, as Romania and Bulgaria have joined the Schengen zone, people from these countries can also cross the borders without being checked.