The Netherlands has decided not to let Bulgaria into Schengen, Austria is still hesitating – Europe
The Dutch government decided on Friday that it will accept Romania and Croatia to join the Schengen area so that its citizens can travel freely in the area, but will block entry to Bulgaria because it is considered not to meet the necessary conditions for to join this treaty, EFE news agency reported.
In the decision taken at today’s Council of Ministers, the Dutch government discussed lower measures to expand the Schengen area by three more countries, scheduled for the agenda of EU interior ministers (EU) on December 8, and agreed only to gave the green light to Romania and Croatia.
This is the worst option for Bulgaria in the situation, since it will be separated from the tandem with Romania and it is unknown when the topic will again enter the agenda of the 22 Schengen countries.
But there are many questions about such a decision, because it would create a Schengen border between Bulgaria and Romania – along the Danube and on land – and it is said that Bucharest is not ready for this scenario and it could take years to activate it.
Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra explains to the press that it is “still too early” to accept Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen and that the Netherlands will make a new assessment to try to support this step only when it is proven that Sofia is a constitutional state that is able to fight corruption and organized crime.
According to Prime Minister Mark Rutte, this assessment will be “a demanding year”, but he regrets that after that there are still concerns about border control, as “in theory there is a risk that the migration flow will start a migrant flow through this country” and wants you to first exclude the possibility of illegal crossing of the Schengen border in Bulgaria.
At the end of next working week, EU ministers will be able to agree (unanimity is required) to new countries joining the Schengen treaty, and although it is not clear whether more European countries will vote against it, only a block by the Netherlands would already prevent the accession of Bulgaria.
State Secretary Eric van der Burgh emphasizes that he does not know if his country is the only one that will impose a veto on access to Sofia, but he does not see a problem if this is the case. “Just because everyone else agrees with something doesn’t mean we have to agree with it too. That’s not the way it should work,” he said, according to public broadcaster NOS.
“There are people in Europe who do not help pressure, but we can also simply resist pressure. Everything is simple: if you respect the agreements and meet the criteria, you are welcome in Schengen,” Van der Burgh added.
The Schengen Agreement on the free movement of goods and people now consists of 22 EU countries (excluding Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Croatia and Romania) and four non-EU countries (Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland).
Both Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007 and their Schengen membership is treated as a bloc. Austria, the Netherlands and Sweden have expressed reservations about the two countries joining Schengen, citing problems with corruption, competition and organized crime.
During the week, a parliamentary majority was formed in Sweden in support of Bulgaria and Romania, which would give a mandate to the parliament to vote “yes” on December 8-9.
In Austria, there is a rift between your members of the ruling coalition. The Croatian publication, citing diplomatic sources, reported yesterday that the Dutch certainly refused to support the Bulgarians, and the Austrians – both the Bulgarians and the Romanians.
Expect details later on www.dnevnik.bg.