Prospective Members
While Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, is legally bound to join the Schengen Area, implementation has been delayed because of the Cyprus dispute. According to Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Lillikas, "strict and full control based on Schengen will create a huge tribulation on a daily basis for the Turkish Cypriots", and it is unclear if this control is possible before the resolution of the dispute. The Sovereign Base Areas, which are outside the EU, will also need "other handling and mechanisms". As of March 2011 no date has been fixed for implementation of the Schengen rules by Cyprus.
While Bulgaria and Romania, which joined the EU in 2007, are also legally bound to join the Schengen Area, implementation has been delayed. Bulgaria's and Romania's bids to join the Schengen Area were approved by the European Parliament in June 2011 but rejected by the Council of Ministers in September 2011, with the Dutch and Finnish governments citing concerns about shortcomings in anti-corruption measures and in the fight against organised crime. Concern has also been expressed about the potential influx of illegal immigrants through Turkey to Bulgaria and Romania and then to Schengen countries. Although the original plan was for Schengen Area to open its air and sea borders with Bulgaria and Romania by March 2012, and land borders by July 2012, opposition from the Netherlands has deferred the two countries' entry to the Schengen Area until 2013 at the earliest. The deal is pending approval of the European Council on the recommendation of its president Herman van Rompuy. The planned debate on the agreement at the March Council meeting was postponed, likely due to the ongoing protests in Bulgaria. Upcoming Council meetings are 27-28 June, 24-25 October, 19-20 December, although only economic issues are on the agenda for the June meeting, and also the position of the Netherlands is not known to have changed so far.
Croatia, which will join the EU on 1 July 2013, will be also legally bound to join the Schengen Area.
| Flag | State | Area | Population | Signed or opted in | Prospective implementation date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | 7005110994000000000110,994 | 70067364570000000007,364,570 | 02007-01-011 January 2007 | 2012 No earlier than end of 2013 | |
| Croatia | 700456594000000000056,594 | 70064290612000000004,290,612 | 02013-07-011 July 2013 | 2999 Sometime after accession in 2013; target is by 2015 | |
| Cyprus | 70039251000000000009,251 | 70061099341000000001,099,341 | 02004-05-011 May 2004 | 2999 Partly dependent upon Cyprus dispute; target is by 2016 | |
| Romania | 7005238391000000000238,391 | 700719042936000000019,042,936 | 02007-01-011 January 2007 | 2012 No earlier than end of 2013 |
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