PSD MEP Victor Negrescu announces he has spoken to Dutch MPs opposed to Romania joining Schengen, sending an upbeat message almost three weeks before a crucial vote in the JAI Council.

Schengen areaPhoto: Karaboux / Dreamstime.com

“This week, we continued direct discussions with Dutch parliamentarians regarding Romania’s accession to the Schengen zone. I mainly focused on the dialogue with the members of the Committee on European Affairs, and I talked to Jeroen van Weyngaarden (VVD), who initiated the resolution against the extension of the Schengen area, and Sjord Sjordsma (D66), an MP who knows Romania well and who wants to initiate a new resolution of support for our country. Both meetings were constructive and allowed me to make the case for Romania joining the free movement area, insisting on a vote this year. I think that after these discussions, things will get better, and in the context of the positive report of the new evaluation commission, we have a real chance to be supported by the Dutch Parliament,” said Social Democratic Member of the European Parliament Victor Negrescu.

The PSD MEP says he will travel to The Hague again in a week to meet with Dutch parliamentarians.

On December 8, the EU Council should vote for the integration of Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia into Schengen. The decision was taken unanimously.

So far, the Netherlands has serious reservations, and a committee of the Swedish parliament has rejected an offer to support the candidacy of the three countries made by the government in Stockholm. And the Minister of the Interior of Austria said that he opposes the expansion of the Schengen zone, which is currently “not functioning”.

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