Danish MEPs Throw Weight against Bulgaria Schengen Entry

Danish MEPs from all parliamentary groups have voiced their concerns about Bulgaria and Romania's possible Schengen entry anytime soon.

Jens Rohde from the EP liberals, Bendt Bendtsen from the EPP, socialist Kristel Scalsdemose and Emilie Turunen from the European Green Party have sent a joint letter to their country's PM, Lars Lykke Rasmussen. They all demand that the two European newcomers have to longer before joining the European border-free zone because of corruption and crime issues.

October 1, which is set by the Hungarian EU presidency as a target for the two countries' Schengen admission is too early, they believe, and the EU should not should not limit itself to set a date for applying the Schengen acquies to them.

Rohde pointed out Western Europeans are often victims of robberies committed by Romanian criminals, the Bulgarian National Radio reported. He added that the rules within the Schengen Agreement are currently been discussed and changes are being proposed, which makes the moment inappropriate for accepting new members.

Bulgaria and Romania have already met the technical criteria for joining Europe's border-free zone, but they are supposed to overcome the political objections to their Schengen accession on behalf of several EU member states which have demanded greater results from Bulgaria in fighting crime and corruption – even though those requirements are not technically part of the Schengen process.

Two weeks ago,  French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe and his German counterpart, Guido Westerwelle reiterated that Bulgaria and Romania are not ready to join Europe's border-free zone at this moment.

While Bulgaria and Romania are hoping to join the Schengen Agreement before the end of 2011, France and Italy have come together with a joint proposal for reforming it after their quarrel caused by the influx of North African migrants.

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