EU ministers must ‘welcome’ Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen – EURACTIV.com

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The European Fee has repeated its name for EU governments to confess Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia to the bloc’s Schengen space which permits passport-free motion at a vote in December. 

Talking at a press convention on Wednesday (16 November), EU residence affairs commissioner, Ylva Johannsson, mentioned that following current fact-finding missions by EU companies, it was clear that “these three nations need to really feel absolutely European.” 

“It’s excessive time to say welcome […] they’re prepared to affix,” the Commissioner added, unveiling a brand new report that states that every one three international locations have met the factors for membership. The Schengen space is likely one of the EU’s flagship insurance policies and, of the remaining member states, solely Cyprus and Eire – each of which have difficult inside border conditions – should not a part of the realm. 

In 2011, Bulgaria and Romania’s Schengen standing was voted on by nationwide ministers, however accession requires unanimous approval by member states and was blocked by the Dutch and Finnish governments, prompting a delay of over a decade. Though Finland’s opposition seems to have lifted, final month the Dutch parliament handed a decision urging Prime Minister Mark Rutte to dam approval citing issues associated to organised crime and corruption. 

Accession for Bulgaria and Romania would pose “a danger to the safety of the Netherlands and your entire Schengen Space,” mentioned Dutch lawmakers. 

The Czech presidency plans to place the matter on the agenda of the following residence affairs ministers – prone to be the final below its six month presidency – for a choice on 8 December. Ministers are anticipated to take two votes, one for Croatia and one other for Bulgaria and Romania.  

“The wait has been lengthy, I ought to say, too lengthy. Expectations are excessive, rightly so, from authorities however not a minimum of residents,” mentioned Commissioner Johannsson. 

Final month, the European Parliament backed a decision by a 534 to 53 margin in favour of Croatian accession, whereas MEPs additionally repeated their very own requires Bulgaria and Romania to affix the bloc, describing the continued delay as ‘discriminatory’. 

The 2 international locations invited a fact-finding mission final month to evaluate their authorized frameworks and governance referring to borders, sharing of safety info and environment friendly police cooperation, in an try and assuage any remaining questions from member states. 

Bulgaria and Romania have “strongly confirmed” that they’ve met EU necessities on border management, mentioned Johannsson, who added that there was an ongoing EU mission assessing the visa issuing course of and knowledge safety within the two international locations. 

[Edited by Nathalie Weatherald]



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