EP committee calls for admission of Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania into Schengen area

(Photo: HINA/ Jure DIVIĆ/)

ZAGREB, June 5 (Hina) – The European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on Friday called on EU member states to take the necessary steps to admit Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen Area and for a prompt return to normality to ensure freedom of movement and overall economic recovery.

The European Parliament calls on the Council and the member states “to increase their efforts to achieve the completion of Schengen integration with all member states,” according to a draft resolution that was voted in by the Committee on Thursday evening.

The resolution on the situation in the Schengen area following the Covid-19 outbreak was backed by 53 Committee members, 6 were against and 6 abstained from voting. It is expected to be put to a vote at a plenary session of the European Parliament scheduled for 17-19 June.

On 22 October 2019 the European Commission confirmed that Croatia had met the conditions and is prepared to enter the Schengen Area and called on the Council to admit Croatia into the area without internal border controls.

The Commission’s evaluation of Croatia’s preparedness for the Schengen Area has not been on the Council’s agenda yet and all member states need to approve that decision while the European Parliament issues its opinion.

Bulgaria and Romania received a positive evaluation in 2011 but have still not joined the area because there is no consensus among the member states.

The proposed resolution notes the Parliament’s readiness to express its opinion on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in Croatia as soon as the Council requests it.

All EU member states are also members of the Schengen Area except for Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania. Cyprus too is not a member as it does not control its entire territory. Ireland does not wish to be part of Schengen because it would have to set up border controls with Northern Ireland.

Some non-EU members are also covered by the Schengen passport-free area, namely Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

The resolution expresses concern because of the situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the introduction of internal border controls and calls for normal functioning without internal border controls.

The resolution also calls for restrictions on movement to be reduced and for the member states to consider reviving the Schengen Area so that temporary internal border controls do not become permanent. The recovery plan should also take into consideration a possible second wave of the pandemic.