(ANSA) - BRUXELLES, NOVEMBER 6 - MEPs on the civil liberties
committee reiterated their call on EU Ministers to take a "swift
and affirmative decision" on the accession of Bulgaria and
Romania as fully-fledged members to the Schengen area. In a
draft report adopted by 36 votes to 4 and 1 abstention, European
lawmakers highlight that the decision of admitting the two
countries should be taken in the form of a single legal act.
The deferral of Bulgaria's and Romania's full accession in
recent years "has brought about negative consequences not just
for the two countries, but also for the EU as a whole", MEPs
say. They also reject the prospects for partial accession with
air and maritime borders first, and then, eventually with land
borders. "This 'two-step' approach is a dangerous precedent"
that "lacks any legally sound justification," said Sergei
Stanishev (S&D), who drafted the text.
MEPs also call on EU Ministers to decide on Croatia's Schengen
accession "as soon as" Zagreb "has successfully met the required
criteria".
Europea. Parliament gave its green light for Bulgaria and
Romania to join the Schengen area in June 2011 and has
reiterated its position several times in the following years.
MEPs are expected to vote on this non-legislative report at next
December plenary sitting in Strasbourg. The final decision has
to be made through a unanimous vote in the Council by EU
ministers.(ANSA).
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