The Council of Ministers of the Interior and Justice of the European Union again refused Romania and Bulgaria to join the Schengen zone. Only one new country was accepted to Schengen – Croatia. The reception of Bulgaria and Romania was blocked by Austria and the Netherlands, writes BBC.
“When we are united, we are strong. And, of course, we were not united about Bulgaria and Romania in this matter. And it sadden me,” Yulva Yukhansson, a member of the European Commission, told reporters after a meeting of ministers.
The European Commission and the European Parliament have long come to the conclusion that both countries are ready to join the Schengen zone and meet the necessary formal requirements, including regarding border control, data protection and visa policy.
But Austria and the Netherlands still suspect that the border guards and officials of the two southern countries are still too prone to corruption and will pass illegal immigrants for money to the Schengen zone.