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YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS/BTA. At its last sitting in Strasbourg before the summer recess, the European Parliament will vote in early July on a new call for the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen. This was decided on Tuesday by the parliamentary committee on petitions.
The decision was adopted with 25 votes in favour, no votes against and no abstentions. MEPs are expected to call on the EU Council to approve the accession of the two countries to Schengen by the end of the year.
Bulgaria and Romania have met the requirements, the draft resolution states, expressing regret that on December 8, 2022 EU countries did not reach unanimity. It adds that Schengen enlargement would have made the EU stronger.
The fact that Romania and Bulgaria are still outside Schengen creates a significant social and economic burden for businesses and citizens in both countries, the document states. Citizens of Bulgaria and Romania are discriminated against as they face delays, bureaucratic difficulties and extra costs when travelling or doing work abroad compared to their counterparts from other EU countries. Delays due to waiting at borders by Romanians and Bulgarians can last from several hours to days, compared to the 10 minutes it takes to cross EU internal borders without checks, and this further worsens working conditions for freight drivers, the text reports.
It adds that the restrictions affect the single market and impede the free movement of goods between EU countries, cause damage to the environment and run counter to environmental protection objectives. The health of drivers, customs officers and people living near border crossings is threatened by increased pollution from the thousands of vehicles waiting to cross the border every day. Every year, 46 000 tons of carbon dioxide are released because of this, the document says.
It calls on the European Commission to assess the additional costs and environmental damage that Romania and Bulgaria have suffered since June 2011 because of their refused Schengen entry. According to the document, the Commission should assess the possibilities for financial compensation. It explains that the issue is being used for anti-European propaganda, including Russian propaganda, and is undermining the EU's ability to promote its values and good governance abroad.
According to the Commission's assessment, Bulgaria and Romania are ready to join Schengen, and the European Parliament has repeatedly supported their accession, most recently in a resolution on 5 October 2022 and a debate on December 14, 2022, the European Parliament said in a statement.
(This information is being published according to an agreement between Armenpress and BTA.)