Brussels, 06/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - Germany is hopeful that Bulgaria and Romania can take “a further step” towards full membership of the passport-free Schengen area this year and will try to find a way out of the deadlock with the Netherlands and also Finland, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle is reported by AFP as saying on Wednesday 5 October.
The minister was speaking after talks with his Romanian counterpart Teodor Baconschi in Berlin. He assured Romania that it could count on the support of his government on the accession of the two countries to Schengen, while reminding the two that they had to make further progress in tackling corruption and organised crime.
On 22 September, the Netherlands and Finland, in a move that provoked the disbelief of the European Parliament, opposed the proposal from the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU for a two-phased accession to the Schengen area for Bulgaria and Romania.
At this stage, it is by no means certain that Schengen enlargement will be discussed by heads of state and government on 17-18 October, or not formally at any rate, according to a source. The matter could be discussed in bilateral talks, however. (SP/transl.rt)