Croatia to join Europe’s ID-check-free area, others to wait

By STEPHEN McGRATH and LORNE COOK
Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) — Croatia has been given a green light to join the group of nations that make up Europe’s ID-check-free travel area, the European Union’s presidency says. The decision came during a meeting of EU interior ministers in Brussels Thursday. Bulgaria and Romania must wait longer. This triggered an angry response from Romania, which lashed out at Austria for blocking its bid. The so-called Schengen area comprises 26 countries — 22 EU states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. “When it comes to the accession of Romania and Bulgaria we are not united and that makes us very weak and that makes me also sad,” Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said after the decision was announced.