The Netherlands will come up with a stance on Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen bids in 2012, following a test period for the two countries, Immigration Minister Gerd Leers announced Thursday.

"It is too early to take a decision now and it may take some time before we are in a position to do so", he explained.

The Dutch Minister said his country would demand that the two Balkan states be able to effectively guard collective borders.

"It is imperative that the judicial reforms in Bulgaria and Romania be effective and irreversible", the minister added

The next monitoring report from the European Commission on justice reforms and the fight against corruption in the two countries is due in July 2011.

"We will carefully study the report", Leers said, highlighting that the Dutch government would take more time to decide.

The test period is expected to last until the next cooperation and verification mechanism report, due in 2012, a Dutch source speaking on condition of anonymity specified.

At the beginning of February the Netherlands announced its position that at present Bulgaria and Romania are not ready to join the Schengen Agreement.

"We agree with France, Germany, Finland and other countries that Romania and Bulgaria cannot at this point be accepted in the Schengen zone," said Ben Knapen, Dutch Minister for European Affairs and International Cooperation, on February 9 at a press conference in Paris with his French counterpart Laurent Wauquiez.

Knapen explained that too many requirements are not followed by Bulgaria and Romania, according to the reports by the European Commission.

"We decided to make a list of criteria that will have to be observed. Then, we will set up a calendar for the two countries` accession to the Schengen Agreement," Knapen explained.

Interior ministers of EU countries will most likely not approve an expansion of the Schengen border-free area at Thursday's meeting in Luxembourg, Deustche Welle reported.

According to the EuroActive, portal, EU interior ministers will postpone the enlargement of the Schengen zone for an indefinite period, although the European Parliament supported Bulgaria and Romania's accession to the area without border checks.

On Wednesday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution in favor of Bulgaria and Romania's accession to Schengen with 487 votes in favor, 77 votes against and 29 abstentions.

Apart from the Netherlands, France, Germany, Finland, Sweden and Belgium are also opposed to Bulgaria and Romania joining the European passport-free zone, despite the fact that the two countries meet the technical requirements.

A new country can join the visa-free network only with a unanimous agreement from all 26 Schengen members.

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