Bulgaria's EPP MEPs Delighted over Schengen Readiness Vote

Bulgarian MEPs from the European People's Party have express their satisfaction over the European Parliament's vote in favor of the country's Schengen Agreeement accession.

"The assessment of the experts from the EU Council says it all – Bulgaria and Romania cover the membership criteria. Everything else is a part of the inner political debate in certain member states. Bulgaria and Romania have done their job and are now improving on it," MEP Andrey Kovachev said in a statement. He stated that the EU council should make the decision on the two countries' Schengen entry as early as September.

"We call upon the Council to show we can rely on it as an institution representing the European values for transparency, partnership and trust – by taking into consideration the position of the European Parliament," MEP Maria Nedelcheva declared.

"I welcome rapporteur Carlos Coelho's explicit and positive assessment of Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen readiness. I hope the EU member states will support it," Iliana Ivanova, another Bulgarian EPP MEP stated.

The European Parliament gave Wednesday almost unanimously its green light for Bulgaria and Romania to join the Schengen border check-free area.

The two countries have met the entry conditions, based on Commission progress reports, the MEPs said, but added that Parliament should be kept informed of additional measures taken in the Bulgaria-Turkey-Greece area to cope with a possible surge in migration pressure.

The parliament's opinion was adopted with 487 votes in favour, 77 against and 29 abstentions. It will now be sent to EU homes affairs ministers meeting on Thursday in Luxembourg.

After considering progress reports on the two Member States and the findings of expert follow-up teams, MEPs concluded that although some remaining issues will require regular reporting and further attention in the future, they do not constitute an obstacle to full Schengen membership for Bulgaria and Romania.

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