Envoys of the EU27 international locations in Brussels raised no objections to Croatia’s accession to the bloc’s passport-free Schengen space subsequent 12 months, indicating that the ultimate resolution must be endorsed on Thursday, Jutarnji Listing reported quoting diplomatic sources.
At a Coreper assembly (Committee of Everlasting Representatives) on Wednesday, “no voice was raised in opposition to Croatia, which signifies that inside ministers will formally endorse the choice” after they get collectively on Thursday, the every day wrote.
N1 reported the identical factor. including that the vote on Croatia must be a formality.
Ministers will maintain two separate votes on Schengen enlargement: One on Croatia, anticipated to move with out hiccups, and one other one on Bulgaria and Romania’s accession, which can in all probability hit a brick wall as a consequence of opposition from Austria and the Netherlands.
Austria has made it clear it was in favour of Croatia however would oppose each Bulgaria and Romania, which joined the EU in 2007, whereas the Dutch could be keen to just accept Romania however not Bulgaria.
Sofia has already threatened retaliatory measures if its path is blocked, significantly because the European Fee mentioned in its newest professional evaluation that each one three international locations are prepared to affix Schengen.
Croatia, the most recent nation to affix the EU, in July 2013, can even turn out to be a member of the eurozone in January.
(Zoran Radosavljević | EURACTIV.com)
