MEP Petar Vitanov stated that the unequal treatment of the council to the citizens of Bulgaria and Romania towards Schengen which have severe economic, environmental and social consequences and creates anti-European sentiments.
In his speech, MEP Vitanov addressed the unequal treatment of the council, noting that this leads to other political issues related to the loyal cooperation of the member countries, as consecrated in Article 4 of the EU Treaty.
According to the sources, Article 4 of the EU treaty states, it shall respect their essential State functions, ensuring the territorial integrity of the State, maintaining law and order and safeguarding national security. In respective, national security remains the sole responsibility of each Member State.
MEP Vitanov took to his official Facebook account to further question the councils of Bulgaria and Romania.
The questions asked to the councils of Bulgaria and Romania are mentioned below:
- How much should Bulgaria and Romania commit to Schengen membership, given that they do not benefit from the #positives?
- How many Member States are entitled to impose additional requirements to those already established by primary legislation and block implementation of Council decision-making commitments, provided all criteria have already been met?
- How do these countries comply with the principle of loyal cooperation?
Additionally, MEP Vitanov emphasised that the postponement of the council’s decision discriminates against Bulgarian and Romanian citizens and hinders one of the greatest achievements of the European Union, the right to free movement.
“I said this today during a meeting of the Committee on Petitions jointly with the Committee on Civil Liberties, Home Affairs Justice in the European Parliament.”, said MEP Petar Vitanov.
Furthermore, MEP Petar Vitanov highlighted that the cause is the submission of two petitions by Neno Dimov and Ivaylo Dermendzhiev insisting on ending Bulgaria and Romania’s unequal treatment and deciding on their Schengen accession.
