Renew Europe, a pro-European and centrist political group in the European Parliament, has said that Romania and Bulgaria should be accepted in the Schengen free-movement area without further delay.
According to Renew Europe, the benefit of free movement within the Schengen area is denied to citizens of Romania and Bulgaria without justifiable cause. For this reason, the acceptance of the two countries into Schengen has been seen as necessary.
Renew Europe said that the discrimination against Romanian and Bulgarian citizens undermines the EU sentiment as well as produces significant damage to businesses in the two countries.
Moreover, it stressed that the EU Parliament, Commission, and an overwhelming majority of Member States have given clear messages that Romania and Bulgaria belong in Schengen on legal and technical merits.
Renew Europe also noted that Romania and Bulgaria have both successfully completed the Schengen evaluation process since 2011 and have met all operational requirements for the application of the Schengen acquis in all areas.
“Romania and Bulgaria have since long successfully completed the Schengen evaluation process and met all the necessary conditions for the application of the Schengen acquis. There is no credible reason for Romanian and Bulgarian citizens and companies to be excluded from enjoying the free movement of the EU,” the President of the Renew Europe group, Stéphane Séjourné, said.
In addition to the above-mentioned, Renew Europe said that the decision to become a full member of the Schengen area should not be a matter of privilege but a process offering clarity and predictability instead.
Renew Europe also expressed its regret about the continuous veto of the Austrian veto, saying that the latter is lacking a legal justification.
“We are calling on the Austrian government to lift its veto without any further delay and allow Romania and Bulgaria to join the Schengen area,” Séjourné added.
Furthermore, Renew Europe reiterated that the baseless position of the government of Austria is instrumentalised by anti-EU propaganda, and for this reason, it has called the European People’s Party to take responsibility for the matter and take measures against the Austrian government.
“Those responsible in the EPP that European political parties have a duty of care towards the perception by EU citizens of the functioning of our Union and of our values,” Renew Europe concluded.
The Minister of Interior of Austria, Gerhard Karner, just recently said once again that the Austrian government continues to remain against the Schengen area expansion. Karner said that Austria is not open to making new additions, emphasising that the country does not agree with Bulgaria and Romania joining the Schengen.
