EU countries meeting in Brussels decided that Bulgaria and Romania will join the Schengen free movement area in 2 stages March and July 2012, according to Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov.

"By the end of the year a solution must be found to ensure entry for Bulgaria and Romania in 2012, which was written down in the protocol from the sitting by request of European Council President Herman Van Rompuy," said the Bulgarian PM.

The 2-stage solution includes a March 2012 Schengen entry for air and sea borders, and a July entry for land borders.

"Bulgaria is definitely ready for Schengen, and Romania is too, so none of the member states voiced any objections," said Borisov.

Bulgaria and Romania were initially planned to join the Schengen Area in the spring of 2011, but their entry was opposed by France and Germany, who voiced objections relating not to technical criteria, but rather with issues related to corruption and organized crime.

In September, Finland and the Netherlands also joined the camp of the opposers, vetoing setting a date for the two countries.

Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov's center-right GERB cabinet has set Schengen entry, as well as the fight against corruption and organized crime, a key policy priority.

Sunday Bulgarians vote at the first round of elections for the country's President and municipal authorities.

It is not yet clear whether PM Borisov has voted, in Sofia or Brussels.

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