Schengen delay for Romania and Bulgaria

Romania and Bulgaria will not join the European Union’s passport-free Schengen area until mid-2012 at the earliest, the EU's Interior Ministers decided on the 9 June 2011.

The EU’s two newest members had hoped to gain a green light to lift their borders with the rest of the EU in the first half of 2011. But ongoing concerns about corruption have prompted existing Schengen members – who must approve new entrants unanimously – to delay their entry by at least 12 months.

Trud, 10.6.11: Sofia and Bucharest kept waiting (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief-cover/705071-sofia-and-bucharest-kept-waiting

EUObserver, 10.6.11: Poland looks to Schengen deal in September http://euobserver.com/9/32469

EurActiv, 14.7.11: Bulgarian PM faces no-confidence vote after Schengen setback http://www.euractiv.com/en/elections/bulgarian-pm-faces-confidence-vote-schengen-setback-news-506538

The New York Times, 5.9.11: The millionaires of Europe’s eastern frontier (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/913961-millionaires-europe-s-eastern-frontier

BBC News, 9.6.11: Schengen zone: Delay for Bulgaria and Romania to join http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13709768

Deutsche Welle, 9.6.11: EU interior ministers slow down Schengen expansion http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15144357,00.html

EurActiv, 9.6.11: Bulgaria, Romania denied Schengen entry http://www.euractiv.com/en/future-eu/bulgaria-romania-denied-schengen-entry-news-505471

ESO: Background information: MEPs nudge ministers on Schengen enlargement http://www.europeansources.info/record/meps-nudge-ministers-on-schengen-enlargement/

Council of the European Union: Press release: PRES/11/161: Justice and Home Affairs Council, Luxembourg, 9 June 2011 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/jha/122516.pdf

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