Malta and 8 Eastern European EU states complete their joining of Schengen. It includes 22 EU member states, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland will join shortly. Uk and Ireland remain outside in name, although both have implemented over 85% of relevant measure in a piecemeal way. Ireland cannot join, because it has an open border with the UK. UK wont join because it wishes to present itself as having control over its borders for domestic political reasons.