06/01/25 (Agence Europe) – On 1 January, Romania and Bulgaria became full members of the Schengen area of free movement of people, which now has 29 members (25 Member States and 4 associated third countries), in accordance with the agreement reached by the EU Council on 12 December (see EUROPE 13544/4). The decision provides for the introduction of temporary controls at the internal borders of these two countries and between Hungary and Romania for a further six months, in order to prevent any increase in migratory flows. The Schengen area is now home to 420 million people. (SP)