Schengen 2 Years Away for Croatia, Says French President

Croatia is at least two years away from joining the Schengen Area, the group of European countries that have abolished passport and immigration controls at their common borders, said French President Francois Hollande on Thursday after welcoming Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic.

“I believe that if we have good cooperation, work jointly in monitoring the borders, control and security measures that have to be initiated, the accession of the country in Schengen area could happen in the time fixed,” Hollande stated after a meeting with Milanovic in Paris.

Joining the Area, named after the village of Schengen in Luxembourg where the Schengen Agreement, which led to the Area’s creation, was signed, entails eliminating internal border controls with the other Schengen members, while simultaneously strengthening external border controls with non-Schengen states. Of the six EU members that do not form part of the Schengen Area at the moment, four– Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania – are legally obliged to join the area, while the other two – Ireland and the United Kingdom – maintain opt-outs.