Dutch Halt Bulgaria's Schengen Entry despite Pressure

The Netherlands is going to make sure Bulgaria and Romania don't see a decision on their Schengen fate until 2012. File photo

There is pressure on the Netherlands from European partners to approve Bulgaria's and Romania's joining of the Schengen zone at the EU leaders' summit in Brussels.

The new was reported Friday by the Bulgarian news agency BTA, citing France Press. The issue is included in the draft declaration of the summit, where it is stated that all requirements for joining Schengen have been fulfilled by the two countries and the Council of Europe is prompted to approve this decision ASAP.

The declaration, however, includes text that if needed the Council will debate the issue once again in March 2012, meaning Bulgaria's Schengen accession is once again postponed until then, despite expectations the enlargement of Schengen would be announced at the last EU summit for 2011.

The Netherlands is the only country still opposing and blocking Bulgaria's joining of Schengen, after Finland retracted its obstruction last month.

The Dutch government is citing unsatisfactory results in the fight against corruption and organized crime as grounds for their opposition.

The enlargement of the Schengen zone requires unanimous consensus among its 25 Member States.

Bulgaria and Romania were initially planned to join the Schengen Area in the spring of 2011, but their entry was opposed by France and Germany, which also voiced objections relating not to technical criteria, but rather to corruption and organized crime.

In September, Finland and the Netherlands joined the camp of the opponents, vetoing the setting of an accession date for the two countries, but Finland later softened its stance.

The last European Council summit for 2011, which started Thursday night, is viewed as crucial for the EU on a number of issues, but most importantly on the fate of the euro, the euro zone, and the debt crisis.

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