EU Council Scraps Schengen Enlargement Debate

Politics » BULGARIA IN EU | February 23, 2013, Saturday // 12:26
EU Council Scraps Schengen Enlargement Debate: EU Council Scraps Schengen Enlargement Debate The Netherlands remains the only country which is openly opposed to the accession of Bulgaria to Schengen. File photo

The enlargement of the Schengen area has been removed from the agenda of the forthcoming summit of the EU Council on Justice and Home Affairs on March 7th and 8th in Brussels.

The news was reported by the Bulgarian National Radio, BNR, citing the Council's press office.

At the beginning of the year, the Irish Presidency of the European Union distributed a program, according to which the enlargement of Schengen and Bulgaria's and Romania's membership was included in the agenda of the above summit.

The Netherlands remains the only country which is openly opposed to the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen over the problems of the two countries with corruption and organized crime. It says it want to see two consecutive positive European Commission reports on them under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism.

Last week, Jochem van Opstal, spokesman for the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice rejected an alleged softening of stance towards Bulgaria's accession to Schengen.

One day earlier, Dutch State Secretary for Security and Justice Fred Teeven was quoted by the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) as having said that "I had a very frank discussion with Deputy Prime Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov and I got the impression that Bulgaria was ready."

There is no listed reason for the change in the Council's agenda, however, Romania has already voiced concerns the unstable political situation in Bulgaria could threaten its Schengen membership.

Last Wednesday, Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov made the stunning announcement he was resigning, grounding the decision on not wanting to see blood on streets and fences around the building of the Parliament. He said he was returning the power to the people who elected him in the summer of 2009.

On Thursday, the Parliament accepted with overwhelming majority the resignation of the government of his Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB.

The breaking news about Borisov's resignation came in the aftermath of large-scale protests across the country against high utility bills, leading to clashes with riot police with many injuries and vandalism.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

Bulgaria in EU » Be a reporter: Write and send your article
Tags: Dutch, the Netherlands, Schengen, Schengen Agreeement, schengen bulgaria, organized crime, corruption, Bulgarian deputy prime minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, council on justice and home affairs, Irish Presidnecy, Schengen, Bulgaria, Romania, Schengen Agreement, Boyko Borisov, resignation, Victor Ponta

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria