On the contrary, there was no unanimity in the EU’s Internal Affairs Council on the accession of Romania and Bulgaria
EU Home Affairs Ministers today approved Croatia’s accession to the Schengen area, from 1 January 2023.
This was announced by the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU, in a post on twitter, expressing satisfaction with the fact that the Schengen area is expanding for the first time in more than a decade.
On the contrary, there was no unanimity in the EU Home Affairs Council for the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area, despite the Commission’s positive assessment that the two countries meet the conditions for Schengen accession.
Satisfaction with the accession of Croatia to the Schengen area, but disappointment with the postponement of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania by the EU Home Affairs Council, the Commissioner for Home Affairs expressed, Ylva Johansson and the Vice President of the Commission, Margaritis Schinas.
Shortly after the decision of the EU Home Affairs Council for Croatia’s accession to the Schengen area on January 1, 2023, Ylva Johansson after congratulating Croatia, stated that Romania and Bulgaria meet the criteria to become full members of the Schengen area and so their citizens to be able to move freely within it. “I share the disappointment of the citizens of Romania and Bulgaria,” he said, while expressing confidence that the two countries will join Schengen before the end of the term of the current Commission.
She noted that 26 countries supported the accession of Romania, while 25 supported the accession of Bulgaria. Well-informed sources say that Austria has not consented to the accession of both countries, while the Netherlands has said no to the accession of Bulgaria.
For his part, the Vice-President of the Commission, Margaritis Schinas, with his post on twitter he expressed his satisfaction that Croatia’s efforts to join Schengen were recognized, while for Romania and Bulgaria he emphasized that it is a “day of disappointment”, but the efforts will not stop here. “The leaders are meeting next week. A way forward must be found”, says M. Schoinas.
The Vice-President of the Commission, M. Schinas, had earlier stated that “the few remaining hesitations are political and undermine two facts: that we are stronger, not weaker through Schengen enlargement and that Schengen enlargement means better controls, not less ».
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