The era of visa-free travel comes to an end: Controls have begun in 27 countries

A new decision has been made regarding the refugee issue, which remains in uncertainty. In the 27 countries that make up the Schengen Area, border controls have been "temporarily" reinstated. Border controls have begun in 11 of the 27 countries in total.

As reported by Dünya, Croatia was admitted as the latest country to join the borderless Schengen system on January 1, 2023. It was emphasized that those wishing to travel by road from Croatia—which was not part of Schengen despite being an EU member before this date—to neighboring countries like Slovenia or Austria had to wait in queues for hours at entry and exit points for passport checks, especially due to the increasing influx of tourists during the summer months.

CROATIA AS A KEY COUNTRY

Then, on the night of December 31, 2022, all customs gates were removed. With the increase in illegal entries into EU countries via the Balkan route, countries most affected by the migrant influx, such as Germany, Austria, and Italy, decided to tighten controls on their borders with neighbors. Italy reinstated customs inspections with its northeastern neighbor Slovenia, which in turn did the same with its eastern neighbor Croatia. This is because Croatia's eastern neighbors, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, stand out as one of the most important transit points on the Balkan route. Therefore, it was stated that the task of controlling one of the largest and most challenging borders of the Schengen Area fell to Croatia.

LAST RESORT

Thus, border controls have been "temporarily" reinstated in the 27-member Schengen area, where free movement is normally provided. Temporariness can legally be declared for a period of 6 months. It was noted that Schengen rules allow for customs inspections as a "last resort" in situations that pose a serious threat to internal security or public policy.

News Source: 12punto