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Von der Leyen wants Bulgaria, Romania in Schengen "witout further delay"

Photo: EPA/BGNES / Photo: ЕПА/БГНЕС

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged EU countries to immediately accept Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area in her annual State of the Union address. "They have proved it: Bulgaria and Romania are part of our Schengen area. So let us finally bring them in – without any further delay," she insisted before the MEPs in Strasbourg. She thanked the two countries for their leading role in implementing best practices in the field of asylum and return.

"We have been waiting for this call from Ursula von der Leyen. We all expect member states to comply with it," Bulgarian Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel commented from Strasbourg. "As far as the Netherlands is concerned, the European Commission's request was a decisive step. Bulgaria must show the Netherlands a long-term commitment to the rule of law. I believe that with the work of the government and parliament over the last three months, Bulgaria has made a clear commitment that we can rely on. Austria is not opposed to the accession of Bulgaria and Romania," Gabriel added.



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