EU states on Thursday cleared Bulgaria and Romania to become full members of the borderless Schengen zone from the start of next year following a more than 13-year wait for the two eastern European nations.

Romania and Bulgaria will gain full access to the European Union’s passport-free area next year, following a grueling, nearly two-decade push that will help boost their struggling economies.

European Union interior ministers decided on Thursday to drop internal border checks to Bulgaria and Romania from January 1, the Hungarian EU presidency said on X. The move allows the two Eastern European countries to become full members of the visa-free Schengen Area,