
Brussels/Bratislava – Lucia Kurilovská, the State Secretary of the Slovak Republic’s Ministry of Interior, announced that the expansion of the Schengen area is well-founded. This statement follows a meeting of the EU Council for Justice and Home Affairs held in Brussels on Thursday, where it was confirmed that Bulgaria and Romania will officially join the Schengen area as full members starting January 1, 2025, according to a report by TASR.
Kurilovská hailed this decision as a historic achievement, noting that both nations have strived for 13 years to secure full membership in Schengen and have methodically met all the required criteria.
“Slovakia has consistently backed Bulgaria’s and Romania’s entry into the Schengen area from the outset, and that goal is now being realized. Hungary also played a pivotal role during its EU Council presidency, having championed this significant objective and participating in the initial accession negotiations,” she remarked.
She shares the European Commission’s perspective that a larger Schengen area enhances the strength of the EU.
“An expanded Schengen area not only increases safety but also facilitates the free movement of goods, services, and people. Public opinion polls consistently support this notion,” the State Secretary explained.
However, some countries are currently extending border controls within the Schengen zone in response to illegal migration from third countries, with the Netherlands recently implementing such measures.
Kurilovská highlighted that these developments were also discussed in the Council of Ministers, stating that the imposition of border controls creates “a certain discomfort” within the Schengen framework.
“We must prioritize the protection and security of our external borders, along with enhancing digitization and effectively utilizing all the information systems we have established. Slovakia is prepared to take on this challenge,” Kurilovská affirmed. (December 12)













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