Schengen Area: Croatia integrated, Bulgaria and Romania rejected

The Schengen area is expanding. Croatia will join the area next January, the Member States decided on Thursday. On the other hand, they rejected the membership applications of Romania and Bulgaria.

The Member States gave their agreement on Thursday 8 December: Croatia will enter the Schengen area of free movement next January. However, Romania's and Bulgaria's membership applications were rejected.

"Council decision adopted. It is now formally confirmed, Croatia will join the Schengen area as of January 1, 2023", tweeted the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU.