Eight member states join EU’s Schengen border

THE EU’s border and passport-free Schengen area stretches as far as Russia, Ukraine and Belarus from midnight last night as eight of the new member states join the zone.

The remaining EU countries are expected to join over the coming year or two while Switzerland will join non-EU members Norway and Iceland next year in Schengen.

This will leave just Ireland and Britain outside the zone and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said this is unlikely to change.