Border controls along the former East Europe Bloc border ceased to exist from midnight yesterday as most of the European Union's new members join the EU's passport-free travel zone.

The entry of nine nations into the EU's Schengen area means citizens can travel by land or sea between 24 European nations from Portugal to Poland, Iceland to Estonia without facing border checks.

"Together we have overcome border controls as man-made obstacles to peace, freedom and unity in Europe," declared European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.