AMBASSADORS of EU member states discussed the expansion of the Schengen area and none had objections to the proposal to admit Croatia into the zone without internal border controls, diplomatic sources have learned. The Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper), made up of the ambassadors of the member states, discussed as part of preparations for the meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council next week the expansion of the Schengen area to Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania.

No member state had objections to the proposal to admit Croatia into Schengen. Some member states, according to their internal rules, must obtain approval from the competent committees in their national parliaments for their positions in the EU Council.

The governments of Sweden, Denmark, Slovenia and the Netherlands have sent proposals to their parliaments in which they support Croatia's entry, and their green light is now awaited. All other EU and Schengen members have already confirmed their support for Croatia. Coreper will again have the expansion of the Schengen area on the agenda on December 7, the day before the meeting of interior ministers who are expected to make the final decision.

Austria is reportedly against Bulgaria and Romania 

According to diplomatic sources, the Dutch ambassador was against admitting Bulgaria, Germany supports all three countries, and Austria is against Bulgaria and Romania. Another diplomatic source told Hina that France strongly advocates for Romania.

The problem is that Bulgaria and Romania cannot be separated because the border between those states was never even conceived to be an external Schengen border. In order to separate those two countries, it would be necessary to prepare the protection of that border and arrange the border crossings in accordance with Schengen rules, and that would take several years.

According to that source, it is possible that there will be pressure on those who oppose Bulgaria and Romania so that all three countries enter, but it is more likely that only Croatia will get the green light. On the agenda are proposals for two decisions, one for Croatia and one for Bulgaria and Romania. The decision requires the consent of all 22 member states that are in the Schengen area.

Source: index.hr