Croatia Targets Next July for Schengen Entry

Croatia’s Minister of Internal Affairs says that Croatia is expected to join the Schengen Area, the group of European countries that have abolished passport and immigration controls at their common borders, by 1 July 2015…

Minister Ranko Ostojić said that Croatia was preparing for its likely entry next July by procuring state-of-the-art equipment for the protection of its European Union borders. Ostojić said that it was ultimately the decision of Schengen Area states on what date Croatia would join, but that it was important they started preparing now to enter the zone by next July.

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.