Approval of Croatia's accession to the Schengen area 

The meeting of the European Union Interior Ministers Council confirmed that Croatia has met the criteria for admission to the Schengen area . 

Croatia joined the European Union in 2013, but it is one of five member states that have not yet joined the travel freedom zone created under the 1985 agreement, signed in the city of Schengen in Luxembourg . 

The other 22 member states, as well as non-EU Iceland, Switzerland and Norway, have abolished border controls within the Schengen area . 

However, some members periodically exercise their right to suspend participation and re-establish the right to verify travelers to counter threats such as terrorist activity . 

During the meeting, the Council concluded that Croatia fulfilled the requirements for implementing the Schengen gains as a whole, which is a prerequisite for the country to be able to join the Schengen area . 

 A press release issued by the Council on this issue notes that since Croatia's accession to the European Union all Schengen requirements have been applied, except for the lifting of internal border controls . 

The Council explained that "according to the law on Croatia's accession to the European Union, these controls can only be lifted after a decision of the Council to this effect, after verification in accordance with the Schengen assessment procedures that Croatia fulfills the conditions ." 

Croatia announced its willingness to start the Schengen assessment in 2015, after which the assessment took place between 2016 and 2020 . 

Source: agencies