EU divided over Schengen enlargement?

Both Bulgaria and Romania, the most junior members of the EU since 2007, have been vying to join the Schengen zone, which allows for borderless travel of people and goods among a number of EU countries, as well as Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland.

However, the Netherlands has so far been against the expansion of the zone to include Bulgaria and Romania, citing the countries’ ongoing problems with tackling corruption as one of the main issues.

Speaking to journalists in Brussels on Thursday, the Dutch minister for immigration and asylum policy, Gerd Leers said that “we do not want [Bulgaria and Romania] to join at the present time.”

Poland, which is leading the working of the EU during its six-month Council Presidency, has tried to broker a compromise, whereby the two countries would join Schengen in stages – meaning border controls at airports and seaports would be lifted by the end of October, while road border crossings would disappear from 2012.

Romania and Bulgaria had earlier heard promises from the EU that they would join the Schengen zone as soon as they would be ready. A recent report also shows that Bucharest and Sofia had fulfilled all the technical aspects of joining the area.

However, Minister Leers maintained that “it is not about fulfilling the technical conditions, but also about the fight against organised crime and corruption.”

Polish diplomats are guarded about the Dutch statements, commenting that Holland’s veto in June to expand the Schengen zone to include Romania and Bulgaria was a political move, not a meritocratic one.

“[The Dutch] government has succumbed to anti-immigration sentiments,” one Polish diplomat working within the EU is reported to have said.

Finland is also expected to veto attempts by Bulgaria and Romania to join the Schengen zone, media reports. (jb)

Source: IAR/PAP