The Netherlands remains opposed to Bulgaria and Romania joining the European Union’s open border area known as Schengen, the caretaker cabinet said in a briefing to MPs.



The cabinet was reacting to a new EU report on the progress both countries have made on reforming their legal systems and stamping out corruption.

In the statement, the cabinet says much progress has been made in both countries but more concrete results are needed to make sure the reforms are sustainable and irreversible.

Given current cabinet policy ‘these reports show full membership of the Schengen zone for Romania and Bulgaria is not yet on the cards,’ the briefing said.

The Dutch position also means a compromise proposal, which would allow passport-free travel through Romanian and Bulgarian airports and sea ports, will not be discussed at the September 20 meeting of European justice and home affairs ministers.

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