EU governments will vote in December on whether to grant Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area after more than ten years of delay.
Back in 2011, the subject was voted on by national ministers, but accession was blocked by the Dutch and Finnish governments. Joining the Schengen passport-free travel area requires unanimity.
“The Czech presidency is committed to making progress to enable Bulgaria and Romania to be fully part of the Schengen area” Czech EU Affairs minister Mikuláš Bek said during a debate on the subject in the European Parliament on Wednesday (5 October).
“In this regard, we are engaging with member states to prepare the ground for a substantive discussion on the lifting of controls at internal borders with Bulgaria and Romania. In our effort to secure the necessary unanimity in the Council, the presidency facilitated the expert visits in Bulgaria and Romania next week, as conducted by the Commission,” the minister said.
A clear majority of MEPs support the lifting of border control for the two countries, and will vote on a resolution on the matter at the 17-20 October plenary session.
Only the Identity and Democracy (ID) group remains against, with Guido Reil of the Alternative für Deutschland party, defining Romania as the “Wild West” in the middle of Europe, and pointing to levels of corruption and organised crime in the two countries.
“We have two EU member states who fulfil all conditions to join this area. They are ready for Schengen but they are still waiting for Council’s green light since 2011. 11 years, no progress. This is simply unacceptable,” said European People’s Party President Manfred Weber.
“There is no first and second class or there are no objective reasons to deny Bulgaria and Romania to this success. They have made all necessary steps and let me assure our friends in Sofia and Bucharest, you have our support, your place is within Schengen” he added.
Similarly, S&D President Iratxe Garcia Perez described the “blockade in the Council” as “discriminatory”.
“We talk a lot about solidarity, but it must apply to everyone. You cannot ask for solidarity from Bulgaria and Romania when the European Union is not living up to its own commitments. It is the best recipe for fuelling disaffection with Europe and support for populist anti-European messages,” she added.
The left supports the measure, but sees a pattern of exchange between freedom of movement and violence against migrants and refugees at the borders.
“I firmly believe in the free movement of absolutely everybody, but I find it very hard to separate Schengen expansion from the violence that is going on the edges of Europe. Grotesque and speed spectacular violence and abuse against refugees trying to enter Croatia” said Clare Daly on behalf of The Left.
“Bulgaria and Romania make it very hard to shake the impression that the EU is demanding that these countries prove that they will stop at nothing to keep migrants out as a price for free movement. The EU seems to have developed a habit of rewarding appalling behaviour with free movement,” she said.
[Edited by Benjamin Fox]
Source: euractiv.com
