Brussels, 11/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - Bulgaria and Romania have moved closer towards the lifting of border controls that comes with joining the Schengen Area. An EU Council of Ministers' decision indicating that the two countries meet the data protection criteria for joining the Schengen Information System (SIS) was approved by the European Parliament's civil liberties committee on Thursday 10 June. A report by Carlos Coelho (EPP, Portugal) approving the Council decision (the first stage in lifting border controls) was approved by the committee by 36 to 1 with 3 abstentions. An assessment group's investigation showed that the Bulgarian and Romanian parts of the SIS system (not yet connected up to the central SIS) ensure sufficient data protection, paving the way for further tests, expected before the end of the year. The report will be debated by the plenary on Tuesday 15 June and voted upon on Wednesday 16 June. Bulgaria and Romani hope to be able to join Schengen in March 2011 (B.C./transl.fl)