Monday

2nd Oct 2023

EU commission backs Croatia's Schengen bid

  • Croatia met EU technical Criteria, but political obstacles remain (Photo: europarl.europa.eu)

Croatia is eligible to join the EU's free-travel area, the Schengen zone, the European Commission said on Tuesday (21 October).

"Croatia has taken the measures needed to ensure that the necessary conditions for the application of Schengen are met," EU migration commissioner Dmitris Avramopoulos said in Strasbourg.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

"Once it [Croatia] becomes a full Schengen member, it will contribute to further strengthening the Schengen area and ensure that the EU's external borders are better protected," he added.

Croatia is one of six EU member states that is not part of Schengen, which comprises 22 EU countries and four other European ones - Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

The existing Schengen EU states must now decide unanimously on the zone's enlargement.

Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker promised in 2017 that Croatia would get in as soon as it met technical criteria.

He hoped "member states will take the right steps for Croatia to become a full Schengen member soon", he also said on Tuesday.

Schengen responsibilities include control of the EU's external borders, issuing Europe-wide visas, and cross-border law enforcement.

Croatia is up to the task, though it must pay special attention to its border with Bosnia, the commission's four-year long assessment said.

And the next commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen, also sees it joining by 2020, Croatia itself noted in a press release.

Its Schengen bid comes in turbulent times for EU enlargements after French president Emmanuel Macron vetoed opening new accession talks in the Western Balkans last week.

But Croatia's problem is more likely to revolve around its neighbour Slovenia than around France.

Slovenia once already blocked Croatia's bid over a territorial dispute.

Slovenia wants Croatia to accept the 2017 ruling of an arbitration tribunal in The Hague on their land and sea border in the northern Adriatic.

And earlier this month, Slovenian MEPs sent an open letter to EU leaders asking to postpone Croatia's accession once again.

"There are very serious reservations regarding Croatia's ... compliance with EU legal standards, notably regarding respect for and implementation of international agreements and judgments," the MEPs said.

For his part, Croatian prime minister Andrej Plenkovic said in September that "Slovenia can't block Croatia's Schengen entry indefinitely".

But for Slovenian foreign minister Miro Cerar, Croatia had to first bow to The Hague tribunal to show it was a "rule of law" state.

"Slovenia expects that in future Croatia will fulfill all the necessary conditions, both technical and legal, including respect for the rule of law, in order to enter into the Schengen area," said Slovenian prime minister Marjan Šarec.

Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania are all meant to join Schengen one day under their EU treaties, while Ireland and the UK have opt-outs from membership.

"The doors [to join Schengen] will be open soon for Romania and Bulgaria," as well, Avramopoulos said on Tuesday.

Bulgaria and Romania have also had positive commission assessments, but have still not joined Schengen because some EU states harboured concerns on corruption in Sofia and Bucharest.

Meanwhile, the EU Council will be chaired by Croatia for six months from 1 January 2020, making it awkward to table a decision on the move early next year if Zagreb does not get in before then.

Von der Leyen aims to 'rebalance Europe'

The German EU Commission president-elect hopes to bridge divisions within the EU, as she meets with EU leaders setting up her team of commissioners.

EU split on Western Balkans accession

Europe's credibility is at risk in the Western Balkans, half its member states have warned - but EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said Albania and North Macedonia unlikely to start accession talks soon.

EU leaders still in search of migration plan

Select EU leaders met amid rising tension over migration, with Italy's PM, who had threatened to boycott the summit, putting forward a new plans to stop boats from leaving Libya.

Croatia's EU presidency optimism beset by problems

Croatia wants to focus on economic development, connectivity, internal and external security and a globally more assertive Europe over its six-month presidency - but Brexit and the next budget negotiations may put pay to that.

Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, 'join Schengen' call by EU Parliament

The request was included in the European Parliament's annual report on the functioning of the Schengen area, and received overwhelming support from MEPs, with 505 votes for, 134 against, and 54 abstentions. The EU Commission has made a similar request.

Opinion

How do you make embarrassing EU documents 'disappear'?

The EU Commission's new magic formula for avoiding scrutiny is simple. You declare the documents in question to be "short-lived correspondence for a preliminary exchange of views" and thus exempt them from being logged in the official inventory.

Column

Will Poles vote for the end of democracy?

International media must make clear that these are not fair, democratic elections. The flawed race should be the story at least as much as the race itself.

Latest News

  1. European Political Community and key media vote This WEEK
  2. Is the ECB sabotaging Europe's Green Deal?
  3. The realists vs idealists Brussels battle on Ukraine's EU accession
  4. EU women promised new dawn under anti-violence pact
  5. Three steps EU can take to halt Azerbaijan's mafia-style bullying
  6. Punish Belarus too for aiding Putin's Ukraine war
  7. Added-value for Russia diamond ban, as G7 and EU prepare sanctions
  8. EU states to agree on asylum crisis bill, say EU officials

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  2. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators, industry & healthcare experts at the 24th IMDRF session, September 25-26, Berlin. Register by 20 Sept to join in person or online.
  3. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  4. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  5. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators & industry experts at the 24th IMDRF session- Berlin September 25-26. Register early for discounted hotel rates
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations
  2. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  3. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable
  4. World BankWorld Bank Report Highlights Role of Human Development for a Successful Green Transition in Europe
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic summit to step up the fight against food loss and waste
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersThink-tank: Strengthen co-operation around tech giants’ influence in the Nordics

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us