Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania are technically ready to join the Schengen area, the European Union would be weaker without the Schengen expansion, said Margarítisz Szkínász, the EU Commissioner responsible for the promotion of the European lifestyle in Brussels on Thursday.
Before the meeting of the interior ministers of the member states, Margarítisz Szkínász emphasized that the three countries fulfilled all the conditions, did everything, and even, as he said, did more to join the Schengen zone, which ensures free EU movement without borders, than was required by the European Union.
He said that the concerns of some member states about the Schengen enlargement are of a political nature. These voices, he says, ignore two simple facts. That the European Union is weaker due to the lack of Schengen expansion, and that the expansion of the Schengen area results in better and more efficient border control.
The inclusion of the three countries in the Schengen zone is a guarantee for the effective protection of the borders, he declared.
– The countries involved are ready to act against human trafficking and illegal migration. It is not fair to deny them what they deserve, he said.
Finally, Skínász expressed his hope that "common sense and open thinking will prevail" at the EU Council meeting, and that the member states will agree to the Schengen accession of all three countries on Thursday or in the following days.
Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said upon her arrival that she hopes the council will make progress towards the adoption of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact before the end of the year. He also called it important that all member states comply with the existing migration rules, including the regulations on the accurate registration of illegal arrivals.
Speaking to journalists before the council meeting in Brussels, German Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser said that her country supports the accession of Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania to the Schengen area.
He added: Germany does not agree with Austria's resistance, according to which
Citing the migration crisis, Vienna does not support the inclusion of Bulgaria and Romania in the zone without border controls.
Upon his arrival, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said that the protection of EU borders is extremely important for his country. He believed that Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania are capable of ensuring border control, and they have done everything and fulfilled all the conditions for Schengen accession, so France is not against their admission to the zone.
The Schengen area includes 22 EU countries and four non-EU countries, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Source and image: Hungarian Nation
