No decision on Bulgaria and Romania's bids to enter the Schengen Agreement will be taken earlier than September, it has been made clear.

"It is agreed that the council should revert to the issue of Bulgaria and Romania's accession to the Schengen area in order to adopt its decision in September," said the draft post European Council summit statement, obtained by international media.

Last month's Cooperation and Verification mechanism report registered Romania's progress in combating organized crime and corruption, but demanded stronger action from Bulgaria.

On Thursday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte reiterated that his government is not against the two countries joining the free zone, but wants absolute guarantees they will be applying the Schengen criteria.

He explained that The Hague wants to see positive reports of the European Commission under the Verification and Monitoring Mechanism as evidence and a fact Bulgaria and Romania are doing everything necessary.

The two EU newcomers were expected to enter Schengen in the spring of 2011, but their entry was blocked by countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland, who had worries that problems with organized crime and corruption might jeopardize safety in the Schengen Area.

Both Bulgaria and Romania have been placed under the so-called EU Co-operation and Verification Mechanism in justice and home affairs, in view of perceived problems in the management of corruption and organized crime.

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