Schengen zone will start to extend since 2008

During the meeting in Brussels ministers of Internal Affairs of 27 EU countries have approved the schedule of expansion of the Schengen zone.

So, since January, 1st, 2008, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Malta will open their borders to citizens of the former fifteen Schengen countries. This decision doesn't spreads on Cyprus, as there the new airport in Lanark, meeting the requirements of the Schengen agreement, should be opened. Most likely, it will occur in the beginning of 2009.

According to Minister of Internal Affairs of Austria, since the end of 2008 the Schengen zone will include also the countries “from the heart of the Europe” - a princedom Liechtenstein and Switzerland. On the eve the Minister of Justice of Switzerland has declared in Brussels, that the country will join the Schengen and Dublin agreements of the European Union, presumably, it will occur on November, 1st, 2008. Bulgaria and Romania can join the Schengen agreement not earlier than in 2011.

Joining Schengen zone entails a cancelling of the boundary control over the countries-participants of the agreement that will facilitate moving between these states.

Having entered Schengen zone, new members will have to solve the problem of illegal immigration, and also the contraband of “the alive goods” from Northern Africa and from the East. For example, Poland should stop a stream of illegal immigrants and contraband from Belarus and from Ukraine. The important condition for the new Schengen countries relies in including of all items of the boundary control over information computer system SIS. It gives access to all data on people and the vehicles, which are being in search.