As of January 1, 2025, Romania and Bulgaria will officially abolish border controls with other Schengen Zone countries, marking their full accession to the Schengen AreaThis development has sparked interest, particularly as Bulgaria has also applied to join the Eurozone, aiming to accelerate the transition to using the Euro within this yearRomania, on its part, is waiting for the right moment to initiate its application processThe interplay between the European Union (EU), the Schengen Area, and the Eurozone has often bewildered both travelers and business professionals alike, as many confuse the visa and currency usage associated with these entities.

To thoroughly understand the relationships between these three interconnected yet distinct concepts, one must trace the history of European integrationScholars typically categorize regional integration into five stages: the establishment of a free trade area, a customs union, a common market, an economic and monetary union, and ultimately a political union

Though Europe exhibited unique characteristics and began its journey through the customs union stage, it still followed a general progressive path of development.

The genesis of this journey can be traced back to 1957, when six countries—France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg—signed the Treaty of RomeThis treaty aimed to eliminate trade barriers and tariffs among member states and harmonize external tariff rates, which led to the formation of a customs union.

As trade and economic exchanges deepened among these countries, the European Commission proposed a White Paper in June 1985 intended to establish a single internal market that would allow free movement of people, goods, capital, and servicesThis period saw the birth of the Schengen Area, which aimed at removing obstacles to the free movement of individualsIn June 1985, five countries—France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands—signed the Schengen Agreement in the small town of Schengen, situated at the borders of Luxembourg, France, and Germany

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This agreement officially entered into force in 1995.

Following the establishment of the single market, the idea of forming an economic and monetary union gained momentumThe European Commission's specialized committee laid out a three-phase plan to gradually integrate member states into the European monetary system, which included efforts to coordinate their monetary policiesThis culminated on January 1, 1999, when EU countries began to implement the Euro as their single currency, ultimately establishing the EurozoneThe currency transitioned to cash on January 1, 2002, when it officially became the sole legal tender across the Eurozone.

In the wake of this integration, numerous EU member countries, including France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, and Portugal, have progressively joined both the Schengen Area and the EurozoneThis has simplified travel for most EU countries, as visitors can confidently utilize both the Schengen visa and the Euro in multiple destinations across this expansive region.

However, the situation becomes complex when examining a few outliers who diverge from the typical path

One notable case includes nations that bypassed EU membership and directly joined the Schengen Area, represented by Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and LiechtensteinThe economic rationale behind their choice to remain outside the EU may stem from a desire to maintain autonomy, as these countries boast significant resources and a robust industrial base, giving them advantages in trade and investment attractionSwitzerland, Iceland, and Norway consistently rank among the highest in Europe for GDP per capita, while Liechtenstein ranks even higher on a global scaleThese countries previously conducted referendums on joining the EU but faced repeated rejection from their citizens, who expressed concerns that sharing resources would dilute existing social welfare systemsIn contrast, membership in the Schengen Area was viewed favorably, enabling them to leverage their picturesque landscapes and rich cultural heritage as popular tourist destinations.

On the other hand, some countries, like Ireland and Cyprus, have joined the EU but have opted to skip the Schengen Area while joining the Eurozone

Unlike the first group of countries, their circumstances often revolve around unavoidable factorsFor instance, Ireland has had a longstanding “Common Travel Area” agreement with the UK that allows free movement of individualsGiven that the UK has never been part of the Schengen Area, Ireland's hands were tiedShould Ireland unilaterally join Schengen, it would essentially draw the UK into the Schengen framework, undermining the UK's strict border controls.

In addition, some member states have deferred their entry into the Eurozone after joining the EU and Schengen AreaThe accession agreements require all member states to strive towards joining the economic and monetary union upon meeting specific economic criteriaCountries like Bulgaria and Hungary are working diligently to meet these benchmarksHowever, other EU members, like Denmark and Sweden, despite being perceived as meeting these economic standards, remain outside the Eurozone for extended periods.

The main reason for their reluctance to adopt the Euro lies in the desire to maintain independence over their domestic monetary policies

Once a country joins the Eurozone, its interest rates and monetary policy are controlled by the European Central Bank, which could significantly limit its economic flexibilityFor example, Denmark's strong agricultural and pastoral economy is hampered by a relatively small domestic market that heavily relies on exportsLosing monetary autonomy would impair the country's ability to dictate pricing strategies and conduct forward contracts in international markets.

This complex web of relationships among the EU, Schengen Area, and Eurozone highlights the many exceptions that exist, making the definitions and connections among member states anything but simpleYet, such intricacies are a natural part of the regional integration processWhile countries pursue collective integration, they must also prioritize the interests and welfare of their citizensWhen regional interests diverge from national priorities, it leads to varying choices and paths among member states

Therefore, the role of regional integration is to balance these competing interests while respecting individual state aspirations and maintaining overall unity.

In recent years, the EU has been caught in a paradox of fervently expanding yet feeling an inertia towards enlargement, coupled with the economic pressures exerted on the EurozoneThis is weakening the organization's cohesivenessWealthier member states are increasingly reluctant to shoulder additional collective burdens, while others feel that their specific needs are unmet, even as they bear the costs of conforming to the monetary policies set by more dominant nationsCalls for Brexit, the Netherlands' intentions to exit the EU's immigration and refugee asylum rules, and the growing support for political parties advocating for withdrawal from both the EU and the Eurozone in Germany are indicative of a broader sentiment that could hinder the EU's ability to act decisively.

In conclusion, the confusion surrounding the distinctions between identity documents and currencies in Europe merely scratches the surface of a deeper, more complex issue