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Alexender Stubb, Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade of Finland, chats with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolai Mladenov prior to a European General affairs council in Brussels, Belgium, 15 November 2011.
Finland has softened its position on Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen accession, the country's EU Affairs Minister Alexander Stub has confirmed in an interview for the Uusi Suomi newspaper.
The Nordic country is now in favor of the EU opening its air and sea borders with Bulgaria and Romania in March 2012, while land borders would be discussed in July.
However, Finnish Interior Minister Paivi Rasanen has explained that Finland is yet to take its final decision on whether to approve the two Balkan newcomers' Schengen entry. According to Rasanen, Finland is ready to accept a phased-in accession to Schengen for Bulgaria and Romania after a report on their readiness comes out in March – in case certain requirements are met.
On Monday, Stubb announced that Finland has softened its stance on Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen accession that it vetoed together with the Netherlands in September.
The Minister declared before journalists in Helsinki Monday that his country is in favor of 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.
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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