EP voted a resolution on Bulgaria’s and Romania’s full accession to Schengen

The European Parliament on 11^th of December supported by a large majority a new call for the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen. In a resolution drafted by MEP Sergei Stanishev, the European Parliament urges the EU Council, as soon as possible, to take an immediate decision on the lifting of checks on the internal land, sea and air borders of Bulgaria and Romania. This is the fifth call of the EP since 2011 in this direction. So far, the Council of the EU has not reached the necessary unanimity.

The vote in Strasbourg was attended by 659 MEPs. 514 of them supported the document, 107 were against, and 38 abstained.

The debates on the subject were yesterday, with none of the speakers arguing that the two countries fully meet the criteria for the purpose.

EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Tibor Navracić also said that Bulgaria and Romania are ready for the free movement area, but recalled that the final word belongs to the Council, which had to vote unanimously for their adoption.

"Our position is that the Council should immediately open the Schengen area for Bulgaria and Romania, but it takes the final decision, and we know that unanimity is needed for it, and the European Commission has no formal role in this process," he said.

The European People's Party, the Socialist and Democrats, the European Conservatives and representatives of the Liberals also declared their support for the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area during the debate last night.

MEP from the Party of European Socialists and PES leader Sergey Stanishev insisted for Bulgaria's and Romania's full acceptance of Schengen. He presented to his colleagues in Strasbourg the willingness of the two countries to join the free movement area.