Since its establishment in 1985, the Schengen Area has become one of the symbolic consequences of European integration. So that; Citizens of Schengen countries have the freedom to travel visa-free without the need for border controls. However, of the 27 members of the European Union (EU), Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus (GCA) and Ireland are not included in Schengen. Although not EU members, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein are within Schengen.
Currently, the region covers 26 states, including 22 EU countries, and approximately 420 million Europeans.[1] However, Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia, which joined the EU in 2007, do not yet benefit from the advantages provided by the Schengen Area. Therefore, it is obvious that Sofia and Bucharest, which have been waiting for many years to join the free travel zone, are deeply disappointed. Because the European Parliament (EP) allowed the countries to join the Schengen Area in 2011.[2]
However, there is disagreement as to whether Bulgaria and Romania meet the technical requirements to join Schengen. The European Council has not yet reached a unanimous decision on whether Bulgaria can fully join the Schengen Area. As a matter of fact, in 2011, France, Germany, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands and Belgium opposed Bulgaria and Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area due to concerns about corruption, organized crime and judicial reforms in the two countries.
Despite this, at the beginning of 2022, Germany and France changed their approach to the issue and gave the green light for Bulgaria and Romania’s accession to Schengen. Therefore, this change of attitude in the two most important EU countries played a critical role in accelerating the process and in changing the attitudes of other countries that did not favour membership. That’s why, Finland and Sweden are reported to have softened their stances.[3]
Currently, the Netherlands is particularly opposed to Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen. Right after the decision was taken in the EP on 18 October 2022 to include the two countries in Schengen, the Dutch Parliament voted against the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen on 20 October 2022. In the resolution adopted by the Dutch Parliament, it is stated that the prevalence of problems such as corruption and organized crime in a Schengen country can cause serious problems in the functioning of the border control of the relevant country and pose a risk to the security of the Netherlands and all Schengen Area countries.[4]
On the other hand, on 16 November 2022, the EU Commission expressed its opinion that Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia should join the Schengen Area. The EU Commission made the following assessment:[5]
“Bulgaria and Romania completed the Schengen evaluation process in 2011. In December 2021, the European Council confirmed that Croatia also fulfils the conditions to join the Schengen Area without internal border controls.”
Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen Area will be determined together with Romania and Croatia on 8 December 2022. However, it is seen that the Netherlands did not change its approach at the point of enlargement of the EU. Because on 2 December 2022, Dutch Minister of Immigration Eric Van Der Burg stated that Romania and Croatia are ready to join; but he said that Bulgaria has not yet fulfilled the conditions. In addition, Prime Minister Mark Rutte described the decision to accept Romania as a “big step” and stated that this decision was not political.[6]
The statements stated that the Netherlands gave the green light to a change in attitude towards Romania; however, it shows that it is determined to maintain its firm stance against Bulgaria. Therefore, while a positive decision is expected for the accession of Romania and Croatia to Schengen on 8 December 2022; it is thought that the Netherlands will veto Bulgaria again.
While this attitude of the Netherlands was met with a reaction from Bulgaria; the situation in question seems to affect the relations between the two countries. Because after Rutte’s allegations that Bulgaria allowed corruption on its borders, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said that Bulgaria did not support Europe’s solidarity; he reacted to the situation by expressing that he was exposed to exclusion.[7]
As a result, Romania and Croatia seem to be close to obtaining the right to join the Schengen Area on 8 December 2022. However, if there is no unanimity for Bulgaria due to the Dutch veto, Sofia will again be disappointed. This situation increases the possibility of strengthening anti-Europeanism in Bulgaria; it also opens the debate on Bulgaria’s EU membership. In addition, this deadlock carries the risk of alienating the EU member country from European values. Therefore, all these developments constitute an important basis for the review of the EU’s unanimity principle. However, the postponement of Bulgaria’s Schengen membership will also hurt the country’s economy.
[1] “AB Üyesi Bulgaristan ve Romanya Neden Schengen Bölgesi’ne Kabul Edilmiyor?”, Euronews, https://tr.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/10/24/ab-uyesi-bulgaristan-ve-romanya-neden-schengen-bolgesine-kabul-edilmiyor, (Date of Accession: 05.12.2022).
[2] “Bulgaria and the Schengen Area: Will Bulgaria Join Soon?”, Etias Info, https://www.etias.info/bulgaria-schengen-area-member/, (Date of Accession: 05.12.2022).
[3] Ibid.
[4] “Dutch Parliament Votes Against Bulgaria and Romania Joining Schengen”, Euractiv, https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/dutch-parliament-votes-against-bulgaria-and-romania-joining-schengen/, (Date of Accession: 05.12.2022).
[5] “Making Schengen Stronger: Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia are Ready to Fully Participate in the Schengen Area”, European Commission, https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_6945, (Date of Accession: 05.12.2022).
[6] “Netherlands Firmly Against Bulgaria Entering Schengen, but Romania & Croatia Can Join”, NL Times, https://nltimes.nl/2022/12/02/netherlands-firmly-bulgaria-entering-schengen-romania-croatia-can-join, (Date of Accession: 05.12.2022).
[7] “Bulgarian President Radev: Instead of European Solidarity, Bulgaria Gets Cynicism”, Novite, https://www.novinite.com/articles/217823/Bulgarian+President+Radev%3A+Instead+of+European+Solidarity%2C+Bulgaria+gets+Cynicism, (Date of Accession: 06.12.2022).
