European Parliament Discuss Bulgaria and Romania Accession to Schengen Zone
The European Parliament brought the issue to the table during the plenary meeting held in Strasbourg, AtoZSerwisPlus.ro reports.
“I believe that the repeated resolutions, debated and adopted by the European Parliament over the years, regarding the support of Romania’s accession to the Schengen area are, in essence, a very good thing. The other European institutions must certainly take them into account,” the PNL/PPE MEP, Gheorghe FALC?, pointed out in this regard, as reported by Stiripesurse.
The accession of these two Balkan countries into the borderless area of Schengen has been discussed for many years; however, it has not taken any concrete step in this regard.
Previously the Czech Presidency of the European Union called on the ministers of Bulgaria and Romania on September 13 in Czech Republic’s capital in order to discuss the accession of these countries into Schengen.
In this regard, FALCA said that “today’s debate in Strasbourg confirms, once again, a reality that everyone has known for years: Romania has done everything in its power to respect and apply the Schengen agreement, and the European Commission always appreciates the Romanian specialists at the country’s borders for the contribution to securing the EU borders.”
In addition, he emphasized that taking into consideration all the efforts made by authorities in this country, it is no longer about what Romania can do, but at this time, it is about what the EU must do correctly and legitimately.
“As I have publicly stated since January this year, in the context of current security challenges, the urgent completion of Romania’s accession process to the Schengen Area appears as a necessity, an expression of trust in European values, but especially an added security for European citizens. For all European citizens,” FALCA pointed out in this regard.
In August this year, Bulgaria and Romania once again called on the EU experts to reassess both countries’ readiness to become part of the Schengen area, urging them for a decision at a leader’s meeting that will be held in December this year.
These comments came from Bulgaria’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kostadin Kodzhabashev.
