Brussels, 17/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - Bulgaria and Romania are a step closer to having their border checks with the Schengen area lifted. A Council decision indicates that the two countries now meet the data protection criteria required for joining the Schengen Information System database, which allows the exchange of information for combating crime and illegal immigration. This decision was approved by the European Parliament on Thursday 17 June. The report by Carlos Coelho (EPP, Portugal), approving the Council decision, was adopted by the Parliament with 525 votes to 18 and 54 abstentions. A working group has assessed that Bulgaria and Romania's branches of the SIS system (which are not yet connected to the central database) guarantee data protection at sufficient levels. It gave a positive report, thus paving the way for further tests before the end of the year. (B.C./transl.jl)