Bulgaria and Romania to be denied passport-free travel

EU interior ministers were set to defer on the 7 March 2013 a decision on Bulgaria and Romania accession to the passport free zone Schengen zone.

Both countries fulfilled the technical requirements in 2011 to allow their citizens to join the 22 other passport free EU countries as well as Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

But a number of member states, including Germany, Finland, and the Netherlands, say corruption and rule of law undermine Bulgaria and Romania’s bid for full membership.

ESO: Background information: Germany’s Schengen veto slated as 'populist' http://www.europeansources.info/record/germanys-schengen-veto-slated-as-populist/

Deutsche Welle, 07.03.13: Germany blocks Schengen membership for Bulgaria, Romania http://www.dw.de/germany-blocks-schengen-membership-for-bulgaria-romania/a-16656037

Jurnalul Naţional, 07.03.13: The EU must stop stepping on our toes (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/3505711-eu-must-stop-stepping-our-toes

ESO: Background information: EU ministers target 'benefit tourism' http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-ministers-target-benefit-tourism/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, PRES/13/95: Justice and Home Affairs Council, Brussels, 7-8 March 2013 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/jha/135901.pdf

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