People checks at internal land and sea borders between Croatia and other Schengen zone countries will be abolished from January 1, 2023, according to an EU Council decision of December 8, 2022.
Checks at internal air borders will be abolished from March 26, 2023, given the need to coordinate with International Air Transport Association (IATA) timetable dates, Brussels explained the decision, under which Croatia became the 27th member of the Schengen area and its rules now apply to the country.
“I am very pleased that during the Czech Presidency (of the EU Council in the second half of 2022 – IF-U) Croatia was able to take two important steps in its European integration by joining both the euro area and the Schengen area. I am confident that these successes will pave the way for other member states that fulfill the conditions to take the next step in their European advancement,” said Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakušan, announcing the EU Council decision.
At the same time, the applications of Bulgaria and Romania to join the free movement zone remained unsatisfied.
Commenting on this situation, the Czech Interior Minister assured: “Both I and my colleagues will continue to work hard so that we can welcome Bulgaria and Romania to the family of the Schengen area in the near future.
According to Western media reports, Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen zone was opposed by Austria and the Netherlands, and Romania’s accession was opposed by Austria.
Agreement on the gradual abandonment of border control was signed June 14, 1985 in the Luxembourg village of Schengen, where the borders of Luxembourg, France and Germany, the representatives of five countries: Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France and Germany. The Schengen area began its existence on March 26, 1995 when border and customs controls were abolished at the internal borders of these countries which had by then been joined also by Spain and Portugal.
Due to the further increase in the number of Schengen countries, the agreement with its legal framework was included from 1999 into the unified community legislation (Treaty of Amsterdam). After Croatia joined the Schengen Area, there are 23 EU states and four European Free Trade Association countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
De facto, without the conclusion of formal agreements, the dwarf states of Vatican City, Monaco and San Marino joined the Schengen rules.
