Czech entry into border-free zone approved

Interior ministers from the European Union’s member states gave final approval on Thursday to the Czech Republic’s accession to the border-free Schengen area. The Czech Republic will now join the Schengen zone, alongside 8 other EU member states, on December 21. The decision had been endorsed by ministers last month, but the final legal step to abolish border controls was taken on Thursday. As of December 21, the Schengen zone will encompass 24 different EU nations. The Czech Republic’s neighbours will all belong to the Schengen area. Entrance to the Schengen zone will mean passport-free travel for Czechs going abroad by train and car, but passports will be required for international flights, even to other countries within the Schengen area, until at least the end of March next year.