Good Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson today expressed to the European Parliament her deep disappointment with the decision by the EU’s Justice and Home Affairs Council last week not to accept Bulgaria and Romania into Schengen.
“We all lost the vote last week. There is only one winner and it is in the Kremlin. Although December is gift month, I urge you not to give Putin gifts,” Johansson said.
Nehamer defended the decision not to let Bulgaria join Schengen
“When we are divided, we are weak. Our strength is in unity. We must accept Bulgaria and Romania in Schengen, as promised, because they deserve it and because it is right. Otherwise we will leave ourselves in the hands of Russia, let division prevail”, she added.
Johansson reiterated that the enlargement of Schengen remains her main task.
“I am determined for this to happen. We will continue to work with the Council of the EU so that both countries are accepted next year,” added the European Commissioner.
In subsequent political group statements, representatives of the European People’s Party (EPP) described the imposed veto as a mistake:
“Bulgaria and Romania have shown what it means to implement the Schengen rules. Especially in wartime, we have to show unity. There is a problem with illegal immigration, but we have to solve it together. Bulgaria and Romania are not to blame, the statistics they prove it – Hungary and Orban opened the doors. The decisions of Holland and Austria are wrong.”
Concerns for the Austrian economy after the Schengen veto
According to the Socialists and Democrats group, the veto by the Netherlands and Austria will fuel anti-European and populist sentiments in Bulgaria and Romania.
According to the “Renew Europe” group, the decision is for purely political reasons internal to Austria:
“It’s a pity, there is no excuse. The truth is that Bulgaria and Romania apply the rules better than the countries that are already in Schengen. The European Council must correct the mistake of the EU Council. Bulgaria and Romania have the right to be in Schengen.” .
The Greens group expressed bewilderment at the EU Council’s refusal.
European conservatives and reformers characterized the reasons for the rejection of The Hague and Vienna as “false justifications”.
According to the Left, Bulgaria and Romania should be admitted to Schengen and this should not be at the expense of migrants.
