Dutch government gives green light to Bulgaria's Schengen accession

"Green light" for Bulgaria's accession to Schengen from the Netherlands. The Parliament confirmed the decision of the outgoing government of Mark Rutte and gave its final support to the country's accession to the Schengen area.

Some MPs suggested that the Netherlands should follow Austria's proposal for a partial admission of our country to Schengen only by air, but this proposal was rejected.

The proposal for Bulgaria's partial admission to Schengen was tabled by an MP from Pieter Omtzigt’s new party New Social Contract. It was supported by Mark Rutte's Liberal Party, the Christian Democrats and the Farmer-Citizen Movement. "All the left and green parties voted against, as did Geert Wilders' Freedom Party, which won the elections in the Netherlands. Thus, the position of the outgoing government was not changed by Parliament.

With the decision of the Parliament in The Hague, the Netherlands definitively supports the admission of Bulgaria to the free movement area.

Negotiations are ongoing with Austria, which has so far agreed to enter Schengen by air only.