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Kosovo recently secured visa-free access to the Schengen zone in Europe.
It’s the world’s largest zone of free movement, becoming the last western Balkan non-European Union nation to be waived visa requirements
The zone is known after Schengen, the tiny Luxembourg village bordering France and Germany.
Where the agreement was signed in 1985 among five of the six EU founding members except Italy.
Citizens of Kosovo can now enter the Schengen as tourists for 90 days within 180 days.
Croatia, a European Union member since 2013, joined Schengen in 2023, while Romania and Bulgaria, EU members since 2007, will gain partial Schengen entry in March.
Schengen zone
The Schengen zone is an area encompassing 27 European countries that have officially abolished border controls at their mutual borders.
This means that you can travel freely between these countries without having to go through passport checks or other border formalities.
The Schengen zone is named after the Schengen Agreement, which was signed in 1985 in Schengen, Luxembourg.
What are the advantages of the EU’s border-free policy?
For nationals of any country, the benefit is the freedom to travel with a single Schengen visa to other European nations within the borderless area.
For EU states, the Visa-free borderless travel, alongside the single currency adopted by 20 EU countries, is the most visible symbol of European integration.
The integrity of Schengen cannot be overstated for the success of the post-war European project.
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