EP supports Bulgaria's accession into the Schengen area for the second time

The EU member states should decide on the accession of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area based only on the existing criteria, without giving priority to national populism, read the second resolution of the European Parliament (EP) on the extension of the Schengen area, which was adopted with a large parliamentary majority yesterday in Brussels. Similar to the first resolution, it is of prescriptive nature. The MEPs urged the European Council to take the necessary measures in order to allow both countries to join the Schengen zone.

Following the decision of the Netherlands and Finland as of September 22 to block the Bulgarian and Romanian Schengen visa-zone accession, the EP took a decision today to express again its support for both countries. The first resolution was adopted with a large parliamentary majority in June this year.

President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek stated yesterday: "Bulgaria and Romania deserve to join the Schengen area. They meet all the necessary criteria. Their borders are secure. I call upon all EU member States to deliver a decision on the extension of the Schengen area solely on the basis of the Schengen acquis and procedures. Bulgaria and Romania should be able to rely on solidarity and fairness by their EU partners. "

The MEPs consider that additional criteria should not be imposed on both countries. They appealed to the EU member states to respect their commitments and ''to avoid giving precedence to national populism".

The resolution also emphasised that "both countries have completely redesigned and reorganized their systems of integrated border management by investing significant resources in their law enforcement authorities ... and apparently they have reinforced their institutional and legal framework".

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