Schengen ambitions: Croatia dreams of an end to long lines at the EU border

Nearly 10 years after joining the EU, Croatia aims to join the Schengen group of EU members with open internal borders. Joining that club will mean quicker movement of people and trade, boosting tourism, industry, and improving people’s daily lives, especially those living near the border. That depends on the European Parliament, Commission and Council approving that Croatia qualifies for Schengen, including maintaining strong external borders. With EU help, and the EPP-led Croatian government, the country has bolstered its border police force to stop cross-border crime and smuggling of migrants.