site.btaEuropean Parliament's S&D Group Wants Schengen Area to Open to Bulgaria and Romania "Without Any Hesitations"

Brussels, September 29 (BTA correspondent Nikolay Jeliazkov) - Gianni Pittella, President of the Group of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Thursday sent a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk urging the opening of the Schengen area of free movement to Bulgaria and Romania "without any hesitations".

Recalling that Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called for the immediate opening of Schengen to Bulgaria and Romania, Pittella said: "Following the thorough subsequent evaluations carried out by the European Commission, Romania and Bulgaria proved to fulfil the conditions necessary to join Schengen area."

He strongly encouraged Tusk "to take the necessary steps towards enabling the full application of the Schengen acquis in Bulgaria and Romania and abolition of checks on persons at internal land, sea and air borders. Allowing these Member States to join Schengen will not only be the natural step towards a more united Europe, but also a solid bridge contributing to the consolidation of mutual trust within the European Union."