Now playing Next Destinations Bulgaria and Romania open up to more tourists: Here’s what to expect The Balkan countries started the process of joining the Schengen Area on 31 March. 01/04/2024
Now playing Next world news Romania and Bulgaria partly join Schengen area A veto from Austria means the new status will not apply for land routes, due to concerns of an influx of refugees. 31/03/2024
Now playing Next Poland Poland signs 'Military Schengen' alongside Germany and Netherlands Poland continues to grapple with internal and external security challenges, and Russia's behaviour remains the top concern. 09/02/2024
Now playing Next Travel News EU travel update: Cost of Schengen visa set to rise in 2024 Schengen visas are required for citizens from non-EU countries that do not benefit from the EU and Schengen area's 90-day visa-free rule. 07/02/2024
Now playing Next Travel News Travel update: What changes when Romania and Bulgaria join Schengen? Bulgaria and Romania will be part of the Schengen area from 31 March. 20/01/2024
Now playing Next Kosovo Kosovo celebrates its long-awaited joining of the Schengen zone The Western Balkan nation was the last in the region to access free travel within the European Union. 03/01/2024
Now playing Next Europe News Romania, Bulgaria to partially enter Schengen after deal with Austria Romania and Bulgaria have struck an agreement with Austria to partially join Europe's borderless Schengen travel zone by March 2024, Bucharest and Sofia have confirmed. 28/12/2023
Now playing Next France EU leaders salute father of European integration Jacques Delors The former President of the European Commission and prominent figure of the French left passed away on Wednesday aged 98. 27/12/2023
Now playing Next Europe News Austria proposes 'Air Schengen' for Romania and Bulgaria Austria has softened its veto on the Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria by proposing the abolition of border checks at airports. 11/12/2023
Now playing Next Europe News Austria still opposed to Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria Austria is still firmly opposed to the long-coveted Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria, arguing the passport-free area needs to become "better" before becoming "bigger." 05/12/2023
Now playing Next Green News Pollution is on the rise at the border between Romania and Bulgaria Hours-long border queues are taking a climate toll in Bulgaria and Romania. Could entry into the Schengen Area help? 26/11/2023
Now playing Next Europe News Bulgaria 'hostage' to Schengen Area debate, says country's PM The Eastern European country was blocked from joining the passport-free zone at the start of the year. 23/11/2023
Now playing Next Europe News 'No justifiable reason' to keep Bulgaria out of Schengen, says Metsola Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament, voiced on Wednesday her unconditional support for Bulgaria's bid to join the Schengen Area in anticipation of a high-stakes vote next month. 22/11/2023
Now playing Next Slovakia Slovakia backtracks on reinforcing border with Hungary Less than 24 hours after announcing a "massive" deployment of police and armed forces at the border with Hungary to curb illegal migration, the new Slovak government called it off, saying it was a "one-off measure." 31/10/2023
Now playing Next world news Euroviews. The EU can’t hope for unity until it solves its Schengen conundrum A chain is as strong as its weakest link, as the saying goes, and Brussels can’t afford a lack of unity or coherence regarding free movement. If a country deserves to be part of Schengen, it should be allowed in, Cristian Gherasim writes. 31/10/2023
Now playing Next Europe News Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria may be voted on in December The long-running impasse over the Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria might be put to a new vote in early December. 19/10/2023
Now playing Next world news Schengen Zone: Are border controls making a comeback? Some Schengen countries have resumed checks at internal European borders. They say it's necessary, given the ongoing migration crisis facing the EU. But what will this mean for Romania and Bulgaria, who have been waiting to join the Schengen Area more than 15 years? 02/10/2023
Now playing Next Croatia Croatia: Sharp rise in illegal immigration since Schengen entry last year The Balkan nation has recorded the jump nine months after it joined the Schengen area, the world's largest visa-free zone. 29/09/2023
Now playing Next euronews WITNESS Border violence: What is going on in Bulgaria? We find out what's going on along the border between Bulgaria and Turkey, as Sofia seeks Schengen Area accession amid worrying reports of abuse and violence towards migrants by Bulgarian border police. 20/07/2023
Now playing Next Travel News Croatia's tourist numbers - and prices - soar after joining Schengen Figures released by Croatia's Ministry of Tourism show a 12 per cent increase in visitors compared to 2022. 18/07/2023