EU interior ministers discuss the inclusion of Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania in the Schengen area
The interior ministers of the European Union countries are discussing in Brussels, Thursday, the inclusion of Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia in the Schengen area, and Croatia has the best opportunity to agree to its accession.
Last month, the European Commission called for the three countries to join the Free Movement Zone, which allows free movement without a passport.
Not all Member States supported this proposal.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer confirmed on Tuesday that his government is ready to support the accession of Croatia, but will vote against the accession of Romania and Bulgaria due to concerns about unregulated immigration.
Last October, the Dutch Parliament adopted a resolution stating that there is a need for further analysis of the functioning of the rule of law and the scope of corruption and organized crime in Bulgaria and Romania.
It is noteworthy that the efforts of Bulgaria and Romania to join the Schengen area have stalled for more than a decade, since the European Commission announced for the first time that the two countries were ready to join the area, in 2011.
It is noteworthy that all member states must agree, unanimously, for any new country to join Schengen.
