From January 1, 2023, Croatians will be able to travel between most European countries without border checks as Croatia becomes part of the Schengen area. The decision on this was made on December 8 by representatives of the EU countries. At the same time, applications from Romania and Bulgaria to join the Schengen were rejected because they did not reach the necessary unanimity.
What is the Schengen area?
We remind you: the Schengen area was formed as a result of an international agreement concluded between several European states in 1985, and then gradually expanded. The countries agreed to abolish border controls among themselves. Such control operates only at the external border - at the entrance and exit from the zone. The regulatory framework of the Schengen area was included in the legislation of the European Union, but the borders of the Schengen and the EU do not coincide. We wrote more about Schengen earlier.
Prospects for Croatia
From January 1, 2023, border control at land and sea crossings is canceled for Croatian citizens, and from March 26, 2023, control at airports is canceled. In addition, Croatia will start issuing Schengen visas and will be able to use the Schengen Information System.
Big disappointment for Romania and Bulgaria
After years of waiting, Romania and Bulgaria also hoped that they would finally be allowed to join the Schengen area. They have the support of the European Commission, which checks if the country meets the requirements, for example, if its border control is in order. Also, support for the immediate admission of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen zone on October 18 was expressed by MEPs.
However, the final decision in the Council of Ministers was blocked by Austria and the Netherlands. At the same time, Austria blocks both countries, and the Netherlands believes that only Bulgaria is not ready to join the Schengen. But Romania, in any case, cannot do this without Bulgaria because of the open border between the two countries. Secretary of State Eric van der Burg said: "It's a pity for the Romanians, because they met all the conditions."
Position of the Netherlands
As Prime Minister Mark Rutte recently stated, Bulgaria is not yet on the right track with respect to the law and the fight against corruption, which is preventing them from becoming members of the Schengen area. In addition, according to the Prime Minister, Bulgaria does not yet meet the technical requirements of the Schengen area. Rutte emphasizes that there are no political reasons behind the refusal, he called it "almost an administrative decision." The negative opinion has nothing to do with his desire to reduce migration. And Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra added that the Netherlands is handling the accession issue in a "strict but fair manner."
Prime Minister Rutte "sweetened the pill" by saying that the current decision does not mean that Bulgaria cannot join the Schengen area in the near future. This could happen "sometime next year" if the country can meet the requirements. And he called the decision to accept Romania "a big step."
Reaction of EU representatives
Discussions about the three candidates lasted many hours on December 8, much longer than planned. However, other Member States failed to persuade the Netherlands and Austria to change their minds. According to a source in the EU, their stubborn resistance caused "some upset in the hall."
Disagreements over applicants for accession to the Schengen area "make us very weak," the responsible European Commissioner, Ylva Johansson, later said. "That makes me sad too." She spoke directly to the Romanians and Bulgarians and assured them: "You deserve to be part of the Schengen area." Their time will come, she believes.
Is it possible to get out of the impasse?
“Today is a day of disappointment for Romania and Bulgaria,” European Commissioner Margaritis Schinas tweeted. “But our efforts don’t stop there.” Referring to next week's EU summit, Schinas invited EU leaders to raise the issue there.
The representative of the Czech Republic, who chaired the meeting, expressed regret over its outcome. He expects that Sweden, the successor of the Czech Republic in more than three weeks, will equally support Romania and Bulgaria in its aspiration to become part of the Schengen. But most EU diplomats see no way out of the impasse quickly.
The Netherlands will not succumb to pressure, no matter how strong, Van der Burgh said, even during next week's summit when Prime Minister Mark Rutte will meet his EU counterparts in Brussels. “You can put this issue on the agenda for next week, but we expressed ourselves clearly,” he later said. "Bulgaria must fulfill the conditions - only then can it join the Schengen, not before."
Publication Date: 13.12.2022
