Bulgaria and Romania excluded from EU’s Schengen

Bulgaria and Romania’s hopes of joining the European Union’s Schengen passport-free area were dashed on 22 September 2011, as northern European countries vetoed their entry amid ongoing concerns about corruption.

Finland and the Netherlands blocked the two countries’ access at a meeting of interior ministers in Brussels, defying the demands of most new EU member states in eastern Europe, which are eager for them to accede as soon as possible.

The Polish EU Presidency said the decision represented a 'sad conclusion about mutual trust among member states'.

EurActiv, 23.9.11: 'Populism' decried as Romania, Bulgaria barred from Schengen http://www.euractiv.com/justice/populism-decried-romania-bulgari-news-507867

EUObserver, 22.9.11: Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen bid vetoed http://euobserver.com/22/113707

Deutsche Welle, 22.9.11: Row over borders threatens to divide Europe http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15409899,00.html

ESO: Background information: Schengen area http://www.europeansources.info/record/schengen-borders-and-visas/

ESO: Background information: Brussels reveals tighter border-free rules / EU plans to exclude wayward Schengen nations / Ministers rebuff Brussels on borders http://www.europeansources.info/record/brussels-reveals-tighter-border-free-rules-eu-plans-to-exclude-wayward-schengen-nations-ministers-rebuff-brussels-on-borders/

ESO: Background information: Bulgaria, Romania monitoring inspires new Schengen rules http://www.europeansources.info/record/bulgaria-romania-monitoring-inspires-new-schengen-rules/

Council of the European Union: Press Release: PRES/11/320: Justice and Home Affairs Council, Brussels, 22 September 2011 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/jha/124713.pdf

Helsingin Sanomat, 22.9.11: Finland joins Netherlands in opposing Romanian and Bulgarian entry to Schengen http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Finland+joins+Netherlands+in+opposing+Romanian+and+Bulgarian+entry+to+Schengen+/1135269523449

De Volkskrant, 22.9.11: Congratulations, you failed the Schengen test (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu//en/content/article/978281-congratulations-you-failed-schengen-test

Mediafax.ro, 22.9.11: Decision On Romania, Bulgaria’s Schengen Entry Postponed http://www.mediafax.ro/english/decision-on-romania-bulgaria-s-schengen-entry-postponed-sources-8786714

PressEurop, 23.9.11: Editorial: Shifting borders http://www.presseurop.eu//en/content/editorial/981821-shifting-borders

Politiken, 27.9.11: Towards an EU that excludes (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu//en/content/article/996421-towards-eu-excludes

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