MEPs call on the Council to approve the accession Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen free-travel area by the end of 2023

In a resolution adopted on Tuesday with 25 votes in favor, 0 votes against, and 0 abstaining, Petitions Committee MEPs ask the Council to vote by the end of 2023 in favor of admitting Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area, given that both countries have already fulfilled necessary requirements for admission. They regret the Council’s decision on 8 December 2022 to reject the accession of these two countries “without presenting any legal justification related to accession criteria”. A larger Schengen area without border controls would make the EU stronger, argue MEPs.

In a resolution adopted on Tuesday with 25 votes in favor, 0 votes against, and 0 abstaining, Petitions Committee MEPs ask the Council to vote by the end of 2023 in favor of admitting Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area, given that both countries have already fulfilled necessary requirements for admission. They regret the Council’s decision on 8 December 2022 to reject the accession of these two countries “without presenting any legal justification related to accession criteria”. A larger Schengen area without border controls would make the EU stronger, argue MEPs./BGNES