"The Council must not deny EU citizens their fundamental right to move freely within the EU to travel and to work. German Interior Minister Friedrich is taking the citizens of Romania and Bulgaria hostage of national party politics, hoping for political gains in the upcoming German federal elections", said Jo Leinen, President of the European Movement International (EMI), in the run-up to the Justice and Home Affairs Council on Thursday.
 
"Friedrich’s threat to veto the Schengen accession of Bulgaria and Romania is arbitrary and puts the unity of the European Union at risk. It is against the European idea to divide the people into ‘good’ and ‘bad’ citizens – the Treaties grant the same rights to every European", Leinen continued.
 
"The decision if Bulgaria and Romania should be allowed to join the Schengen Area must be based on the two countries’ compliance with the EU’s criteria rather than politically motivated double-standards", Jo Leinen concluded. The European Commission and the European Parliament have considered Bulgaria and Romania fit to join the Schengen Area since 2011.
 
At its last Members Council meeting in Cyprus the EMI has by unanimity adopted a resolution, asking the EU to extend the Schengen Area also to citizens coming from Bulgaria and Romania.
 
To download the resolution, please click here
 
[ENDS]
 
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Editor’s Note: The European Movement International (EMI) is one of the largest pan and pro-European civil society organisation with currently more than 75 Member Organisations, bringing together representatives from European associations, political parties, enterprises and trade unions.
 
For more information, please contact the secretariat: +32 (0)2 508 30 88, email: secretariat@europeanmovement.eu