Croatia has been given the green light to join Europe's open travel zone, while EU members Bulgaria and Romania have been kept out because of opposition led by Austria over concerns about unauthorized immigration.

From 2023, people will no longer have to stop for border checks as they move between Croatia and the rest of the Schengen zone – the world's largest free-travel area.

Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said he was disappointed by his country's exclusion and would re-apply to enter the zone. "We regret and honestly do not understand the inflexible position taken by Austria," he said.

Bulgaria's foreign ministry said it would also try again.

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Croatia will become the 27th member to join the zone after tense talks between the bloc's interior ministers in Brussels.

"To the citizens of Croatia: welcome, congratulations!" European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, said.

"To the citizens of Romania and Bulgaria – you deserve to be full members of Schengen, to have access to the free movement... I share the disappointment with the citizens of Bulgaria and Romania."

Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said he had opposed the inclusion of Romania and Bulgaria due to security concerns.

"It is wrong that a system that does not work properly in many places would get expanded at this point," he said.

Austria, he added, had recorded 100,000 alleged illegal border crossings in 2022, including 75,000 people who had not been previously registered in other Schengen countries.

Joining the Schengen zone needs the unanimous agreement from all member states – 22 EU nations as well as Lichtenstein, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

The Netherlands also helped block Bulgaria's bid, citing concerns over corruption and migration.