At its last sitting in Strasbourg before the summer recess, the European Parliament is to vote on a new call for the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen. This was decided by the European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions (PETI). The MEPs will call on the EU Council to approve the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen by the end of 2023.

 According to the draft resolution, Bulgaria and Romania have met the requirements. The fact that the two countries are still outside Schengen creates a burden for businesses and citizens, the document reads. Citizens of Bulgaria and Romania face delays, bureaucratic impediments and additional costs when traveling or working abroad. Delays due to waiting at borders by nationals of Bulgaria and Romania can last from several hours to days compared to the 10 minutes it takes to cross EU internal borders without checks. This further aggravates freight traffic, the document reads further.