Jorrit Rijpma speaks at European Parliament on Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen
Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU in 2007. In 2011, the European Commission announced these Member States’ readiness to fully apply the Schengen rules and lift controls at the internal borders with other Member States. However, that decision has to be taken by the Council with unanimity. A number of Member States, including the Netherlands, continues to block accession with reference to concerns about the rule of law and irregular migration.
On 7 November, Jorrit Rijpma spoke at a conference at the European Parliament, at the invitation of Emil Radev, a Member of European Parliament for the European People's Party (Christian Democrats). Among the speakers were Commission officials, Members of the European Parliament, Bulgaria’s deputy minister for the Interior, and representatives of law enforcement activities. President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, and the Spanish presidency, addressed the audience via video message.