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Finland Willing to Let Bulgaria, Romania in Schengen
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Alexander Stubb (right) with former Bulgarian Foreign Minister Rumiana Jeleva in December 2009. Photo by EPA/BGNES
Finland has soften its stance on Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen accession that it vetoed together with the Netherlands in September, Finnish EU Affairs Minister Alexander Stub has announced.
Stubb declared before journalists in Helsinki Monday that his country had softened its approach and wants a compromise plan for the two Balkan countries but still noted that the Netherlands remains opposed, and the approval of all 25 Schengen Area states is needed for Bulgaria and Romania to get in.
"That is a two-track approach. We would first open air and sea borders and then later on take a decision on land borders," he told reporters, as cited by international media.
Stubb said Finland is now in favor of opening the air and sea borders with Bulgaria and Romania in March 2012, while land borders would be discussed in July.
"We are trying to make sure the Schengen system is water-tight, and we are trying to make sure that issues linked to international crime, rule of law, and anti-corruption measures, are fulfilled," the Finnish official added.
Last week Dutch Ambassador to Bulgaria Karel Van Kesteren confirmed the opposition of the Netherlands to the Schengen accession of Bulgaria and Romania.
His confirmation of the Dutch veto came after Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov announced triumphantly in end-October that the EU 27 leaders had agreed on a phased-in approach to accepting the two Balkan countries in March-July 2012.
The 2-stage solution includes a March 2012 Schengen entry for air and sea borders, and a July entry for land borders; it was recorded in the protocol of the October 23, 2011, European Council Summit but is non-binding.
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.
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