The European Parliament has prepared a draft resolution on Romania and Bulgaria's accession to the border-free Schengen Area following a delay in the final vote on the process at a September 22 meeting of the EU's Justice and Home Affairs Council because of Dutch and Finnish opposition.

The preliminary draft resolution, which will be submitted to the plenary vote of the European parliament on October 12-13 in Brussels, says the European Parliament is calling on all the EU member states to observe their commitment to the EU legal framework concerning the admission criteria to the Schengen Area and to shy national populism.

The document also recommends the member states to make a decision on the enlargement of the Schengen Area to include Bulgaria and Romania in accordance with the Schengen acquis and procedures.

It also points out that both countries have overhauled their integrated border management systems on sizeable investments in law enforcement authorities through training and state-of-the-art equipment and visibly strengthened their legal and institutional framework, which was acknowledged by all the Schengen evaluation reports.

The documents mentions the constant support and solidarity displayed by Bulgaria and Romania as trustful partners in South-Eastern Europe and their constant contribution to border security in this part of the European Union by their participation in important Frontex missions to counter illegal migration.

The European Parliament points out that both countries have fully implemented the Schengen legislation, which is the only necessary condition for Romania and Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen Area, as established under their accession treaties and the existing EU legal framework.

The meeting of September 22 of the EU's Justice and Home Affairs Council decided to postpone a vote on Romania and Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen Area following firm opposition from the Netherlands and Finland.