Don’t let Croatia join Schengen

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Croatia should not be part of the European Union’s borderless Schengen area, even though the Balkan country has met all conditions to join the zone.

Furthermore, the organization called on the EU not to admit Croatia into the passport-free zone, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

Such a request was made regarding Croatia’s treatment of migrants. Furthermore, in a report published on November 8, the non-governmental organization launched accusations against the European Commission for having declared that this Balkan country was ready to join the Schengen area.

“Croatia’s illegal and violent summary returns of asylum seekers and migrants should prevent it from joining the Schengen area. » Lydia Gall, senior researcher on Eastern Europe and the Balkans at HRW, highlighted this, adding that the Commission’s actions “sends the message that serious human rights violations do not constitute an obstacle to membership of the Schengen area” as reported by Radio Free Europe.

However, such abuse-related accusations made by migrants as well as human rights groups have often been denied by Croatian authorities.

The Commission of the European Union previously asked the European Council to adopt the decision in order allow Croatia, along with Romania and Bulgaria, to become part of the Schengen passport-free zone.

The Commission’s comments come from this year’s State of Schengen report. Furthermore, the press release highlights that the three countries mentioned above meet all the conditions to be part of the Schengen zone countries.

In this regard, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson stressed that the Schengen zone should be completed by allowing Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania to join.

Johansson emphasized that “This summer inspires us to fully restore freedom of movement and prepare Schengen for the future so that our children can work, study and travel throughout Europe, anytime and anywhere they want,” however, the process is still not finalized.

Croatia has been subject to Schengen evaluation procedures for several years, while in the last quarter of 2019 the Commission concluded that the Croatian authorities had taken all necessary measures to apply all parts of the Schengen acquis. Schengen.

Recently it was reported thatt Croatia will become a member of the Eurozone from January 1 next year, becoming the 20th country to be part of this zone.