With Germany ramping up border controls earlier this month and other EU countries contemplating stricter migration rules, the Schengen zone of free movement – and no internal border checks – seems to be crumbling.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser met with her Romanian counterpart to discuss the countries’ cooperation on migration and asylum. As part of efforts to fully join the borderless Schengen zone, Bulgaria and Romania have recently made progress in protecting the EU’s external borders.
After nearly a decade of negotiations, the EU Parliament has reached an agreement on a reform of its asylum policies, with tougher measures for individuals from countries considered relatively safe. The approval was far from assured, highlighting the significance of the decision.
In its latest economic forecast, the European Commission expects inflation in the eurozone to fall. The EU announced support for a 6.4-million-euro migration management project in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Swiss parliament voted to resume negotiations with the EU.
After more than ten years of waiting: Bulgaria and Romania have been given the green light to join Europe’s free-travel Schengen area by air and sea from March 2024. However, some restrictions will remain in place.