France, Germany To Vote For Bulgaria, Romania’s Two-Stage Schengen Entry - Sources

Sources from Brussels said France proposed to allow Romania and Bulgaria to enter Schengen in two stages: one to take place this year by opening sea and air borders, and the second stage in 2012, when land borders should be opened.

According to the sources, Germany also agreed with the two-stage Schengen entry proposition.

The JHA Council will convene on September 22 in Brussels to debate a proposition of the Polish EU Presidency to allow the two countries to join the border-free area in stages. According to the proposition, Bulgaria and Romania's air and sea borders are supposed to be opened by the end of October and a decision on opening land borders will be taken in 2012.

The Dutch Government said on Friday the Netherlands will vote against allowing Bulgaria and Romania to join Schengen.

Romania's two chambers of Parliament on Wednesday adopted declarations on the country's accession to Schengen, which is still being denied by several EU states.

The Chamber of Deputies adopted a declaration disproving the decisions of certain parliaments and governments of EU states blocking Romania's entry and calling for "just" action. The lower house adopted the declaration with 157 to one votes and 13 abstentions.

The declaration adds Romania has met all the required technical criteria for Schengen accession and calls on the Romanian Government to take action and finalize the accession process.

The Senate also adopted the declaration with 100 to one votes and one abstention.

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