/ world today news/ The position of the Netherlands against the acceptance of Bulgaria and Romania in Schengen, which is unfair, may provoke a counter-reaction of the EU. There is a fine line between expressing valid concerns and blocking a decision indefinitely. It should not be crossed. This was stated by Elena Yoncheva, MEP from the group of socialists and democrats, who was asked for a comment by one of the largest Dutch newspapers – Algemeen Dagblad.
The article, published on Wednesday, titled “Netherlands in danger of missing out on top European job: ‘No political game to be played about this'”, takes as its occasion the upcoming election of Frontex’s director. It is the European agency responsible for the EU’s border and coast guard. Its former head was released early after an investigation into violations began against him. The candidate for the position is the Dutchman Gen. Hans Leitens.
The article analyzes the possible relationship between gene selection. Laitens and The Hague’s position on the admission of Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen. A few weeks ago, the House of Representatives in the Netherlands passed a resolution arguing that the two countries should not be admitted unconditionally because they do not meet the requirements to fight corruption and organized crime.
Bulgaria fulfilled all the technical criteria for the Schengen area already in 2011, and this has been repeatedly recognized by the European Commission and the European Parliament. Another resolution in support of the membership of Bulgaria and Romania was adopted by an overwhelming majority of the European MPs in October.
“Personally, I would like Frontex to be led by a person with a lot of practical experience and a rich biography,” Elena Yoncheva told the Dutch newspaper. “But if the Dutch government continues to include non-Schengen issues in the Schengen debate, it will happen that this unfair decision provokes similar counter-reactions in other areas.”
The Netherlands is holding not only Bulgaria, but also the entire EU hostage to its internal interests, added Elena Yoncheva.
Her position is also shared by the Romanian MEP from the “Renew Europe” group, Dragos Tudorace. “If the Dutch government plays the Schengen decision cynically, there is a risk that this Frontex decision will also become political, although there is no doubt about the qualities of the candidate,” he was quoted as saying in the article.
Bulgaria has a national interest in becoming part of the Schengen area. Bulgarian citizens will be able to travel without being subject to internal border checks, which will benefit both tourism and the transport business. Bulgaria will receive additional assistance for the protection of the external borders of the EU, including the possibility of long-term investments for the purpose. Resources now needed to guard the borders with Romania and Greece will be redirected.
The EU Council’s decision must be taken in early December, unanimously. There are signals and comments coming from the Netherlands and Austria that they are hesitating. Therefore, it is necessary for the politicians in Bulgaria to actively and urgently seek out their colleagues from sister parties in the EU, to whom they can declare that our country has long since fulfilled all the requirements for Schengen, according to Elena Yoncheva.
Until a few days ago, there was also uncertainty in Sweden whether to support Bulgaria and Romania. However, the Swedish Social Democrats, who are crucial to the majority in parliament, have already informed their Bulgarian colleagues in the EP that they are positive about expanding the zone.
At the end of last week, the five representatives of the Bulgarian left sent a letter to the chairman of the Swedish Social Democratic Workers’ Party, Magdalena Andersson, who is also the country’s former prime minister. With it, they insisted on support at the meeting of the Council of the EU.
The representatives of the Swedish Social Democratic Workers’ Party voted unanimously for the resolution of the PES congress calling for the accession of Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia to the Schengen area without further delay, as well as for the resolution of the European Parliament on the subject in October.
To contact the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the EP:
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