France offers two-phase entry in Schengen for Bulgaria and Romania

A week or two ago, the Prime Minister of France Jean-Marc Ayrault had a meeting and talks with the President of Romania Mr. Traian Basescu. During that meeting he stated that Romania and assumingly Bulgaria could be accessed in the Schengen zone in two phases. He said that the first borders to be lifted are expected to be the air border controls, followed by the land border controls. According to the Prime Minister of France, his country shows support on the entry of Bulgaria and Romania and stated its opinion on several occasions. He stated that the integrity and the overall security of the European Union borders should be strengthened and the external borders should be well protected, as all countries that are members of the Schengen zone should fight against crime and corruption.

Bulgaria and Romania were supposed to enter the Schengen area in March 2011, when their accession was put off by France and Germany, two of the leading European Union member states. In September the same year, the Netherlands and Finland also blocked the bid for entry of the two countries, asking them to improve their results in the fight against organized crime and corruption. The new decision on whether the Bulgaria and Romania to enter the Schengen area will be taken not sooner than this December.