Posts Tagged Schengen
Schengen enlargement shaping up for March 2012
Posted by Natalie Hamill in European Union on 18/11/2011
Earlier this week, Finland announced it no longer opposes Bulgaria and Romania’s accession to the Schengen zone in 2012, providing their entry is managed in two-phases. No doubt in pre-Eurozone crisis days Finland’s decision to drop their veto would have been closely analysed, but the fact that it has only captured limited attention should not be considered a reflection of its impact on shaping Schengen: the EU’s internal border-free club.
Shackled by Schengen – time for a policy rethink?
Posted by Natalie Hamill in European Union on 28/04/2011
The civil strife in North Africa is having a dramatic effect on one of the EU’s most ambitious, yet controversial, policies – the Schengen agreement. With unprecedented numbers of migrants arriving at its southern borders, the EU must revamp its Schengen policy or risk fuelling tensions between member states.
EU Schengen Shambles
Posted by Natalie Hamill in European Union on 02/02/2011
So far, 2011 is not proving to be a very decisive year for the EU. A month of mulling over Hungary’s untimely media clamp-downs, a series of vague statements urging ‘dialogue’ as the protests in North Africa escalate, and now, dithering over what to do with Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to the EU Schengen zone (due in the next couple of months). With several member states openly voicing opposition against the countries’ imminent entry, there is growing confusion as to how the ‘readiness’ of the two countries should be assessed, and even whether they should be allowed to enter the Schengen zone independent of one another.