The Commission of the European Union has been pressuring the Netherlands to agree to let Bulgaria and Romania join the Schengen Area.
Brussels has said that there is no reason to hold back such a decision any longer, suggesting that the Netherlands should approve of these countries to join the Schengen Area and no longer be subject to border controls, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
According to the Volkskrant, the EU Commission said that it is ‘beyond any doubt’ that Bulgaria and Romania have fulfilled all the required conditions to become part of the area and has urged all the EU Member States to give the green light for the Schengen Area expansion.
In addition, the same source said that in a confidential report, the Commission said that by letting Bulgaria and Romania join the Schengen Area EU would fulfil its promise as well as meet their expectations.
Apart from the Commission, the Members of the European Parliament have also supported the joining of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Area.
Earlier in October, MEPs urged the EU Member States to allow Bulgaria and Romania to become members of Schengen without delay.
In a resolution that was adopted a month ago, MEPs stressed that the EU Council should adopt a decision on the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen free movement area by the end of this year and ensure the abolition of checks at all internal border in early 2023.
“MEPs criticise the Council’s failure to take a decision on admitting Bulgaria and Romania, even though the two countries have long since fulfilled the necessary conditions. Maintaining internal border controls is discriminatory and has a serious impact on the lives of mobile workers and citizens,” the EU Parliament stated.
The Parliament further pointed out that all member states of the EU, except for Croatia, Bulgaria, Ireland, Cyprus, and Romania are part of the Schengen Area. Thus, MEPs have called for Bulgaria and Romania to be admitted.
The accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen needs a unanimous decision by the EU Council. Regarding the matter, the Council’s Czech Presidency has said that it plans to hold discussion before the end of this year.
Bulgaria and Romania have been waiting for a decision on their accession to the Schengen Area for years now. Both countries met all the technical conditions in 2011.
Previously, SchengenVisaInfo.com reported that MEPs have also supported the accession of Croatia to Schengen. With 534 votes in favour, MEPs approved of Croatia becoming a member of the zone and said that the lifting of internal border checks must happen by the end of this year.
Source : Schengen Visa News
