Brussels, 05/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - Germany has still not approved the idea of a staggered accession to the Schengen free-movement area for Romania and Bulgaria, a representative of Home Affairs Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich confirmed last weekend. Talks with France and the Netherlands on this issue will follow in the next few weeks.
The representative was reacting to a number of articles in the German press indicating that Berlin had approved the idea of a partial admission of Bucharest and Sofia to Schengen from the end of this year, with an opening-up of sea and air borders. However, Friedrich has not yet made “any official decisions”, he said, adding that Berlin, which is “not very enthusiastic”, still has its doubts about the ability of the two member states to become part of Schengen, partly due to the “somewhat negative reports” published by the Commission in July in the framework of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism. These reports noted some progress made by Romania and Bulgaria in the field of judicial reform and the fight against corruption, but also stressed the major shortcomings, particularly in the case of Sofia.
On 23 September, the home affairs ministers will take position on what will happen to Bulgaria and Romania's accession to the Schengen zone, a decision which requires the unanimity of the member states of the free-movement zone. (S.P./transl.fl)