Croatia is the 27th country to join the Schengen area. Bulgaria and Romania, on the other hand, are not admitted to the Schengen zone. The EU ministers of the interior and justice met yesterday to vote on the first extension of Schengen in more than a decade.
The Schengen zone is an area without borders 26 Schengen countries includes. Within this area, all EU citizens (420 million) and many visa-exempt citizens from outside the EU can freely travel without border controls. Since 1985, this area has grown and now includes almost all EU countries and some non-EU countries (Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland).
Anyone of any nationality can travel between the Schengen countries without border controls. It is possible that national governments carry out police checks at the border or in border areas.
Austria and the Netherlands against Bulgaria's accession
The Netherlands is opposed to expanding the Schengen zone with Bulgaria. Austria does not want that either and also says that Romania is not yet welcome in the Schengen zone. EU member states must unanimously approve new countries. No EU country has any objections to Croatia's accession.
Now that Croatia's admission has been approved, the country will become the 1th Schengen country on 27 January. The country then had to wait more than ten years for admission.
'Bulgaria's border controls below par'
Countries that want to join the Schengen area must meet strict requirements. For example, there must be a properly functioning rule of law and corruption and organized crime must be combated effectively. According to the European Commission, all three countries meet these requirements. An EU research team checked this in November.
The Netherlands and Austria nevertheless believe that border controls are substandard and fear more illegal immigration. The so-called Balkan route is notorious for this. In the course of next year, the EU will reassess Romania's and Bulgaria's request.
Source: NOS.nl
Related posts:
