(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).