There are no travel restrictions or border checks between countries belonging to the Schengen area.
Anne Orjala,
Ilmari Reunamäki
19:37•Updated 19:38
The EU Commission proposes to expand the Schengen area to Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania.
The commission tells in the bulletin (you will switch to another service) asking the Council of the European Union to “immediately accept” the countries’ full participation in the Schengen area.
The Schengen area currently includes 22 EU countries and 4 countries from outside the EU: Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
– Schengen is one of the EU’s greatest achievements. The related connections increase internal markets, economies and people’s living standards. 22 EU countries and four other countries belong to Schengen, and now it’s time to include three more, said the EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson at the press conference.
Johansson swore that the countries fulfill the Schengen conditions
Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania are long-term members of the EU. Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU in 2007 and Croatia in 2013.
Some countries have expressed concerns related to how countries have acted in the fight against organized crime and in handling immigration.
At the press conference, Johansson swore that Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia meet all the criteria.
In order to enter the Schengen area, the countries have had to go through a multi-stage evaluation.
The purpose is to facilitate free movement
The purpose of the Schengen Agreement is facilitates the free movement of persons in the Schengen area (you switch to another service).
There are no travel restrictions or border checks between countries belonging to the Schengen area.
– The expansion of the Schengen area will make Europe safer, because with it the protection of common external borders and police cooperation will become more effective. In addition, enlargement increases wealth, as connections between people and companies become easier and time is no longer wasted at borders, the EU Commission’s press release says.
A vote on the full participation of Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia in the Schengen area is scheduled for December 8 in the Justice and Home Affairs Council.
Sources: Reuters
* Does the proposed expansion of the Schengen area arouse thoughts? You can discuss the topic until Thursday, November 17, 2022, until 11 p.m.
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