site.btaUPDATED Bulgaria Expects Positive Decision on Schengen Enlargement from Netherlands in Coming Days

Bulgaria expects the Parliament of the Netherlands to lift the veto on Schengen enlargement into Bulgaria and Romania in the coming days, Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov told reporters in Brussels Friday after a two-day meeting of the European Council.

The Dutch government had a meeting on Friday and a decision about Schengen enlargement will be submitted to the legislature for a final sanctions, Denkov explained. He expects that to happen next week, if all things go as planned.

"We have walked a long road to make that possible," said the Bulgarian government leader. He listed the laws that the Bulgarian Parliament adopted, the closing of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism by the European Commission, the positive results of the latest mission to Bulgaria with officials of the Hague and Vienna. "All those were the right steps that took us to this moment where we expect a positive outcome," said Denkov.

He said that talks continue with Austria. "We are discussing scenarios, exchanging possible texts of a decision. But until all is agreed, everything is preliminary talks. One thing is for sure: without a positive decision from the Netherlands, all that would have been meaningless."

He also said: "The Netherlands has always said that it is important for it to see the recommendations on rule of law fulfilled. They wanted to see the mission findings verified by the EC. There is a report, a very positive one. The decision by the Dutch government today is based on this report."

Reuters quoted the Dutch Justice Ministry later on Friday as saying that the Netherlands has agreed to Bulgaria joining Europe's passport-free Schengen Zone. The Netherlands previously opposed granting access to Bulgaria, citing concerns over corruption and migration, Reuters recalled, adding that the Ministry said Bulgaria now met conditions to join Schengen.

Austria still opposes Bulgaria joining the world's largest passport-free area, though it said on Monday it was willing to give some ground by allowing plane travel in exchange for tighter security at the EU's external border.