Reopening borders even if the pandemic is
\nnot over yet is necessary, the MEPs believe, who on Friday endorsed with a
\nlandslide majority a resolution clearly expressing their position. A swift and
\ncoordinated return to a fully functional Schengen area is of utmost importance
\nto safeguard freedom of movement, one of the main achievements of European
\nintegration, and to ensure the EU’s economic recovery after the pandemic the
\nEuropean document reads. <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
At the same time the MEPs have rejected
\nany uncoordinated bilateral action of the EU members underlining the principle
\nof non-discrimination in the process of reopening borders. They have called for
\na new round of debates over a recovery plan for the Schengen zone including a
\nseries of measures for emergency situations such a second wave of the pandemic.
\nThe move comes after the EU countries have started to lift border control and
\ntravel restrictions they introduced to limit the spread of the novel
\ncoronavirus. <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
According to the MEPs, it’s good news that
\nall these restrictions are being lifted, but the way this has been done so far is
\nunsatisfactory. They believe that a fully functional Schengen zone is a
\ncornerstone of the way towards recovery recalling that mutual trust and
\nsolidarity are key values of the European Union. <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
For Bucharest, Sofia and Zagreb, the
\nresolution has a bigger stake, as through this the MEPs are calling on the EU
\nCouncil and the member states to take all the necessary measures for the
\nSchengen accession of Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia. <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
The MEPs’ latest appeal comes after a
\nsimilar one by the Committee on Civil Liberties Justice and Home Affairs with
\nthe European Parliament also being in line with the statement by EU Home
\nAffairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson who recently proposed the three countries
\nto join Schengen as the EU needs to update and strengthen this free-movement
\narea. <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Long-time
\napplicants Romania and Bulgaria should have joined Schengen in March 2011. They
\ngot the greenlight from the European Parliament a long time ago and this
\nposition has been constantly reaffirmed by higher EU bodies. However, their
\neffective accession has been hindered by countries like the Netherlands, which
\nconditioned their accession on the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism although
\nthe community acquis criteria had been checked. <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Croatia,
\nthe Union’s youngest state, got the greenlight from the European Commission in
\nOctober last year but the final decision regarding their accession needs a
\nunanimous vote in the Justice and Home Affairs Council.<\/p>\n
(translated by bill)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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