New Strategy for the Schengen Area – Commision calls for expansion [pdf]

Relevant passage:

> Completing the Schengen area

> The Commission considers that completing Schengen requires taking the necessary steps to follow up on the legitimate expectation and the legal obligation of those EU Member States that are not yet fully part of the area without controls at internal borders to join. Bulgaria and Romania have been positively evaluated within the framework of the Schengen evaluation process already in 2010/2011. Concerning Croatia, on 22 October 2019 the Commission adopted a Communication which stated that Croatia had taken the measures needed to ensure that the necessary conditions for the application of the Schengen acquisare met which was reconfirmed following a targeted revisit toCroatia’s external borders.

> The Commission considers that is it now high time to follow up on these positive evaluations and therefore calls upon the Council to take the necessary steps for Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia to become part of the area without controls at the internal borders of Member States.These Member States are effectively implementing most of the Schengenacquis, but without the full benefits that comes with being part of the Schengen area, and this needs to be rectified.