Like Simon Busuttil, I very much welcome Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen membership, and hope that it will be completed as soon as possible, as long as the problem areas are addressed and the necessary reforms are made.

Although Bulgaria and Romania have been found to be in line and they therefore meet the actual Schengen evaluation of technical criteria, there are a number of shortcomings. The fight against corruption, crime, and the development of the rule of law just to name a few. This is reflecting badly on the status of minority groups and functioning of the judiciary.

This is a similar to the protection of the euro. Eurozone countries bear a huge responsibility now just because a number of Member States bended the rules. Now we see the consequences of reckless borrowing and we do not know how deep and prolonged debt crisis our countries will face.

So I hope that the freedom of movement and of the Schengen rules are taken as seriously as the rules on the euro. Only then will Bulgaria and Romania be able to join.

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