By Martin Banks - 27th September 2011
I regret the delay
Jerzy Buzek
Parliament's president Jerzy Buzek has criticised the delayed accession of Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen travel-free zone.
It follows last week's council postponement of Romania and Bulgaria's entry into the Schengen area.
Bulgaria and Romania, the EU's newest members, were kept outside of the EU's passport-free Schengen travel zone last Thursday after the Dutch and Finnish governments blocked plans to let them in.
The decision—which ministers did not vote on—came at a meeting of interior ministers.
The Schengen agreement, named after a village in Luxembourg, removes internal borders among 22 EU member countries plus Iceland, Switzerland and Norway.
In response, Buzek said, "I regret the delay in Romania and Bulgaria Schengen accession. Bulgarians and Romanians can be proud of their achievements in fulfilling all the technical requirements.
"On behalf of parliament, I call for fairness and European solidarity. We call on those member states that blocked Romanian and Bulgaria Schengen entry to reconsider their position.
"The European spirit that keeps us together and makes the EU so attractive as a community of values must prevail.
"The Schengen system is providing the highest standards of border management. Romania and Bulgaria are meeting these standards today. We must not delay their integration.
"Parliament fully supports these country's legitimate aspirations. We stand by Romania and Bulgaria."
