Schengen Visa Expansion - Which New Member Countries to be Added in the Zone
Stay updated on the Schengen visa expansion. Explore which new member countries are set to join the Schengen Zone, opening up exciting travel possibilities. Learn about the latest developments in European travel with our informative guide.
- (1888PressRelease) October 24, 2023 - Dubai, United Arab Emirates - In an eagerly awaited development, Bulgaria and Romania have been granted permission to join the Schengen area by the European Commission. Their membership has also received backing from the European Parliament. This historic decision is fantastic news for European travellers! The Schengen Area, renowned for its borderless travel across 27 European nations, will soon welcome Bulgaria and Romania into its ranks, further expanding the benefits of seamless, visa-free travel across the continent. Bulgaria and Romania's impending inclusion in the Schengen Area will open doors for travellers to enjoy visa-free access to 29 different countries. This means easier exploration of not only Bulgaria and Romania but also other fascinating European destinations.
Croatia, as of January 1, 2023, became the 27th member of the Schengen Area and adopted the Euro as its official currency, further simplifying travel in the region. Cyprus followed suit, initiating its Schengen Area membership on July 25, 2023. Once Romania and Bulgaria successfully integrate into the Schengen Area, travellers can look forward to streamlined journeys without internal border controls. This is a promising development for those seeking greater convenience and flexibility in their European explorations.
Created in 1985, the Schengen area allows people and goods to travel freely, usually without showing travel or customs documents. In 2022, The passport-free zone encompassed 27 countries, including 23 EU members. The number of states in the Schengen area increases to 29 after the inclusion of Romania and Bulgaria.
However, the government of a European nation cannot decide to join the Schengen area on its own. The nation has to go through a number of Schengen assessments to see if they fulfil the requirements. The current Schengen nations should also show their support without any protest. To get approval, a country must fulfil certain requirements, such as:
• Adhering to a common set of Schengen Rules, or 'Schengen acquis' and establishing the same for sea, land and air.
• Making the issuance of visas and taking responsibility for controlling the external borders on behalf of other Schengen countries
• Cooperating properly with law enforcement agencies in other Schengen countries.
• Safeguarding and providing an extremely high level of security after Schengen countries' borders are eliminated.
The Schengen Evaluation must determine that a Member State is ready to enter the region without internal border controls, and all other Member States must give unopposed approval.
Romania and Bulgaria have faced a challenging path to Schengen membership since 2011. The European Commission has consistently emphasized the lack of need for internal border controls in these countries. Following rigorous assessments and necessary preparations, both nations are on track to fully adopt Schengen regulations since November 2022, marking a significant step towards their Schengen inclusion.
Recent crises highlight the critical role that Bulgaria and Romania play in upholding common external borders and successfully fostering an exceptional level of security. Additionally, by developing close relationships with their neighbours, these nations have shown a strong commitment to making an efficient response to the pressures created by migration and related issues. In spite of this, Austria and the Netherlands both conveyed concerns, referring to refugee and illegal migration concerns.
According to Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, Austria's decision not to support the inclusion of these new member states is because of the growing problem of illegal migration into Austria via the West Balkan route. Minister Karner stated "Our stance is that the Schengen system, as a whole, is not functioning effectively. We already have border controls between Germany and Austria, and there are plans for controls with Poland and the Czech Republic. These developments signal a system that needs improvement, and we believe expansion may not be appropriate at this time." This decision points out the ongoing debate over the Schengen system's functionality.
However, the inclusion of Romania and Bulgaria in the Schengen Area is a happy occasion for citizens as well as tourists visiting. After years of facing bureaucratic hurdles and inflated expenses, citizens of these two countries can finally travel to other European destinations with ease, just like their Schengen counterparts. The only outlier now is Ireland, the sole EU member outside the Schengen Zone, as the Schengen visa program continues to facilitate seamless travel across most of Europe. With Romania and Bulgaria’s entry into the Schengen Zone, foreign travellers can now add these two countries and their splendors to their dream European holidays and visit them without being worried about getting independent visas for Romania and Bulgaria and even doing transactions on their trip on a common currency. The decision to incorporate Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen Area underscores the commitment to creating a more connected and accessible Europe. It is a big step forward for unrestricted travel to discover Europe's lesser-known, fascinating landscapes. The exact date of Romania and Bulgaria's official admission into the Schengen Zone is yet to be determined, but it is expected to occur before the end of 2023. Come New Year 2024, visitors to Europe can look forward to having their Europe travel plans included with a trip to Romania and Bulgaria as a Schengen vacation!
For further information, please contact us at +971 42087543, email us at info ( @ ) schengenvisa dot ae
or visit the official website https://www.schengenvisa.ae/
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