29/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 25 January, Romania and Bulgaria signed a joint declaration in which the two countries undertook to cooperate with a view to their accession to the Schengen area in March 2011. Appraisal missions are taking place in Romania and Bulgaria, which joined the EU on 1 January 2007. The free movement area currently has 24 member countries (22 EU member states, plus Iceland and Norway). Cyprus and Switzerland are due to join towards the end of 2008. (B.C.)