Declaration on the decision of the Justice and Home Affairs Council of 8 December concerning the enlargement of the Schengen area

DECLARATION on the decision of the Justice and Home Affairs Council of 8 December concerning the enlargement of the Schengen area

The European Economic and Social Committee has always supported the idea of expanding the Schengen area and has encouraged the European institutions and the Member States to provide the legal and political framework for the participation of all EU and EFTA States in as wide a space as possible to ensure the full freedom of movement of persons and goods, in accordance with the principles and values of the European Union. While being pleased to welcome Croatia into the Schengen family, the Committee regrets the blocking of Romania and Bulgaria's entry into the Schengen area by the JHA Council on 8 December and considers that this seriously affects European solidarity. The Committee furthermore believes that the situation creates a dangerous precedent for the functioning of the EU and calls on the European institutions, the Commission, the Council, the current Czech presidency and the future Swedish presidency, as well as Austria and the Netherlands, to take all the necessary steps to welcome the two States into the Schengen area as soon as possible.

Brussels, 14 December 2022

Christa Schweng
President of the European Economic and Social Committee