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21 December starting with 00 a.m., according to the Middle European Time, another nine countries joined the Schengen Area. Border control is eliminated at land and sea borders of Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta and Poland. Starting with 30 March of the next year air borders between these countries shall also be opened. The extension of Schengen borders is a natural stage of consolidation of the EU countries.
Schengen embodies one of the main cornerstones of the whole project of the joining Europe - free movement of people. Inclusion of many countries that entered the EU during a mega-extension in 2004 in the Schengen Area should be perceived both in the European Union and in the whole world as a very important event that, from the point of view of European integration, is a major step towards fulfillment of the initial objectives set by the common market in 50-60s.
Experts are sure that extension of the Schengen Area shall favorably influence the tourism. |
