France Hints of Two-Stage Schengen Entry for Bulgaria, Romania

French Interior Minister Claude Gueant addresses the media after a EU Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting at the EU Headquarters in Luxembourg, 09 June 2011. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Bulgaria and Romania's accession to the Schengen Agreement may take place in two stages, Claude Gueant, French Interior Minister, stated Thursday.

Gueant said he expected the decision on the Schengen zone's enlargement to be taken in September, the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency reported. He spoke as European Union interior ministers met in Luxembourg just a day after the non-binding vote of the European Parliament, which allowed Bulgarians and Romanians to travel across Europe without a passport.

The first stage in the two EU newcomers' Schengen accession is supposed to be the opening of their air and sea borders, the second - the opening of the land borders. Earlier in 2011, Hungary, which holds the EU Presidency, mentioned that the same measure was possible.

The precise deadline for the start of the first stage is to be determined in September, Gueant said, clarifying that the European Commission's July report on the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism will play a decisive role.

Earlier on Thursday, the European Union decided to keep Bulgaria and Romania out of the Schengen zone, even though they have met all technical requirements.

The move came after the Dutch Immigration Minister Gerd Leers said The Netherlands would come up with a stance on Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen bids in 2012, following a test period for the two countries.

A new country can join the visa-free network only with a unanimous agreement from all 26 Schengen members.

Analysts say the reluctance of France, The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Austria to let the Balkan country join the Agreement in 2011 is both because of domestic politics and because they really believe the entry into Schengen will be premature, just as the EU entry.

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