The European Commission called on Wednesday for Bulgaria, Croatia, and Romania to be admitted to the Schengen area to allow travel between these countries and most of Europe without border controls, Reuters reports.
The EU executive asked the European Council, the grouping of the European Union’s 27 members, to take the necessary decisions to admit the three eastern European countries to the 26-member Schengen area that stretches from Iceland to Greece.
Bulgaria and Romania concluded the evaluation process in 2011, but the Council has held off lifting internal borders for more than 11 years.
The Council confirmed in December 2021 that Croatia, which became an EU member in 2013, had fulfilled the conditions to join the Schengen area.
EU governments are expected to vote on the participation of the three candidates at a meeting of national ministers on Dec. 8. Some countries have expressed concerns about the entrants’ record on fighting organized crime and dealing with migration.
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: European Commission
