France and Netherlands Remain Unsupportive of Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia's Schengen Accession
Amid the Coronavirus outbreak, the European Union has published several guidelines and recommendations to the Member States, as an effort to help them gradually put an end to travel restrictions and revive the tourism industry.
Through the European Union Vice-President Margaritis Schinas pointed out “there is no room for discrimination” presenting the recommendations, countries like Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia, “feel this discrimination” because they still are not part of the Schengen zone, despite the fact that they have fulfilled all the conditions to join the borderless area according to the European Parlament and the Commission.
Regarding the accession of these three countries in the Schengen Area, some member states such as the Netherlands and France, remain unsupportive of their Schengen membership, due to “rule of law concerns”.
Nationals of Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia still need to pass through strict controls to enter any of the Schengen Zone countries,
Romanian Member of the European Parliament Dacian Ciolos posted a video of his 20-hour journey from Bucharest to Brussels.
Whereas DragoÈ™ Tudorache, also a Romanian Member of the European Parliament (RENEW), asserts that “What has been happening over the last two months for all EU citizens, has been happening for the citizens of Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia for the last 12 years, 13 years.”
MEP Tudorache is looking for a political message, a sign, that those on the Schengen waiting list can be considered for admission.
In 2007, Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union, but the rule of law concerns have prolonged their progress to become Schengen Zone members. The same is with Croatia, which joined the European Union in 2013.
In February this year, Prime Minister of Romania Ludovic Orban said that the government of Romania considers that the country has fulfilled all criteria to become a member of the Schengen area, during the Munich Security Conference, held in Germany.
The Romanian Prime Minister stressed that the European Commission and the European Parliament also support Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area, but further steps are needed in order to accomplish it.
