Poland 'Understands' Other Countries' Reluctance to Let Bulgaria, Romania in Schengen

Even though Poland supports Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen accession bids, the country understands why some countries have reservations, a Polish paper has said, citing a diplomatic source.

"We understand the importance for Romania and Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen Zone, because it gives a sense of full membership in the EU. On the other hand, it is difficult to disagree with some reservations expressed by some countries," the unnamed diplomatic source has told the Rzeczpospolita daily, as cited by Thenews.pl.

The debate on the two EU newcomers' Schengen accession was expectedly postponed for end-2013 during Thursday's sitting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council.

At least three countries - Germany, Finland and the Netherlands - are currently opposing Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen accession bids, as they want the two Balkan countries to show more convincing results in their combat against corruption and organized crime.

On Tuesday, Romanian media published information that a total of seven countries oppose Bulgaria's and Romania's accession to Schengen – Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Finland, Denmark and Austria.

Until now the two countries were denied Schengen membership on several occasions mainly over the opposition of the Netherlands on grounds that, even though they have fulfilled the technical requirements, they cannot secure their borders over lack of progress in the fight against corruption and crime.