AGERPRES special corespondent Tudor Martalogu reports: The accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen family, which now consists of 29 countries, was a long-awaited step towards a more prosperous, united and secure Union, the President of the European Parliament (EP), Roberta Metsola declared on Monday, in the EP plenary session, in Strasbourg, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the signing of the agreement that created the Schengen Area.
This Saturday, on June 14, we marked 40 years since the signing of the agreement that established the Schengen Area - a defining achievement for European unity, cooperation and freedom. What started in 1985 with just five countries has become the world's largest free movement area, making life easier for over 400 million people in the European Union, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, Metsola said in her speech.
According to the President of the EU legislature, the Schengen Area allows 3.5 million to cross borders freely every day and boosts the European economy by facilitating trade between countries, contributing to the better functioning of the European single market.
Schengen also helps us to be safe, through closer cooperation between police, customs and border authorities to protect our borders and fight crime. The Schengen Area is admired all over the world as a clear and tangible example of what can be achieved through European cooperation, said the EP President.
At the same time, said Roberta Metsola, strengthening Schengen requires commitment and constant efforts from all Europeans and in this regard the European Parliament will cooperate with the Member States and the other EU institutions to modernise and strengthen Schengen.
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