Actions
MEPs reiterated on Tuesday their call on EU Council to take a swift and affirmative decision to include Bulgaria and Romania as fully-fledged members in the Schengen area.
The non-legislative report was adopted by 514 votes to 107, with 38 abstentions. EU ministers should admit Bulgaria and Romania to the border check-free Schengen area as soon as possible, MEPs urge.
A two-step approach - first ending checks at internal sea and air borders, followed by stopping checks at internal land borders - would pose a number of risks and could negatively impact the future enlargement of the Schengen area, say MEPs. The decision should therefore be taken in the form of a single legal act.
Parliament also calls on EU Ministers to decide on Croatia’s Schengen accession as soon as Croatia has successfully met the required criteria.
