The Council of the European Union (EU) approved this Thursday, in Brussels, the entry of Croatia into the Schengen area of free movement as of January 1, 2023, which now includes 27 countries.
With this approval, by the EU Ministers of the Interior, following the recommendation of the European Commission of November 16, Croatia will no longer have internal borders with the rest of the countries of the Schengen area.
This Thursday the accession of Bulgaria and Romania will also be voted on, both waiting for the green light from the Council for more than a decade.
On November 16, the community executive recommended to the Council that it give the ‘green light’ to the accession of the three countries, through the adoption of a “communication on how to make Schengen [a área europeia de livre circulação de pessoas] stronger with the full participation of Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia”, giving the floor today to the Member States, as well as to the Schengen associated countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland).
The approval of Bulgaria and Romania is not certain, since the migratory pressure on the Balkan route could make unanimity difficult at the Council meeting, where Portugal is represented by the Minister of Interior Administration, José Luís Carneiro.
The free movement Schengen area allows citizens to move around that area without the need for a passport and controls are abolished, although temporary exceptions are provided.
26 countries are part of this area, representing 420 million inhabitants, of which 22 EU Member States, including Portugal, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Apart from Romania and Bulgaria, the only EU member states that are not part of the Schengen area are Ireland and Cyprus.
Source: TSF
