On Sunday 1 January, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, together with the Croatian Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković, celebrated Croatia’s entry into the Schengen area, hailing it as a “great success for the Croatian people”, “only 10 years” after the country joined the EU.
The President was also celebrating Croatia’s entry into the euro area on the same day (see other news).
“If there are historical moments, special moments which should provide us with great honour and when we witness the achievement of strategic goals of a state, this is such a day,” said Mr Plenković.
As far as Schengen is concerned, on 8 December, Croatia benefited from a unanimous decision of the EU interior ministers to enter the free movement area (see EUROPE 13080/1), while Romania and Bulgaria will have to wait.
By the end of 2021, the EU Council had deemed Croatia eligible to join the free movement area and the European Parliament gave its favourable opinion in November.
In concrete terms, Croatia’s land and sea borders were fully opened on 1 January 2023, but air border controls will be lifted on 26 March.
Croatia is the 27th member of the Schengen area, which includes four associated non-EU countries and 400 million people in total. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)