Czechia prioritises the enlargement of the 26-member Schengen area during its presidency of the EU, and Bulgaria and Romania have already completed the technical requirements for accession, Bek told the European Parliament on Wednesday as seen in a video posted on the parliament's website. Czechia has held the six-month rotating presidency of the EU since July 1.
There will be fact-finding missions by EU Commission representatives in Bulgaria and Romania next week, hosted on a voluntary basis by the two applicant states to again ascertain their compliance with the Schengen acquis, Bek said.
Final approval for the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen can only be given after a unanimous vote in the European Council, a regular meeting of EU heads of state or ministers. At present, out of the 27-member bloc, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania remain outside the border-free area, of which Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein are also members despite not being in the EU.
The Czech presidency also fully endorses Croatia's accession, according to Bek.
At the session, the EU Commission, represented by its vice president Margaritis Schinas, praised Romania and Bulgaria for their handling of the refugee crisis which resulted from Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February.
The EP will hold a formal vote and inform the EU Council of its position on Schengen enlargement by mid-October.
The Commission gave the green light to Bulgaria and Romania to join the Schengen area in June 2011 but The Netherlands and Finland blocked their accesion. Currently, Bulgaria and Romania apply the Schengen acquis partially and checks are carried out at their borders.
The coronavirus pandemic of 2020 led to a temporary reintroduction of border controls by certain member states, with some restrictions in force until next month.
In December 2021, the Commission presented a proposal to amend the Schengen Borders Code in order to include mechanisms for addressing health threats and tackling illegal immigration.
