French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says France is not in favor of allowing Romania and Bulgaria into the European Union's passport-free Schengen zone.
Fabius said on September 30 that the accession of Romania and Bulgaria would mean that immigrants from third nations could freely enter the European Union through those two countries.
Fabius's comments come amid a heated debate in France over the treatment of Roma migrants, predominantly from Romania and Bulgaria. The French interior minister, Manuel Valls, last week said the Roma could not be integrated into French society and should be sent home.
Restrictions that imposed passport checks on Romanians and Bulgarians were put in place when the two countries joined the EU in 2007 and are due to be lifted in January. A vote on the accession is expected before the end of the year.
Fabius said on September 30 that the accession of Romania and Bulgaria would mean that immigrants from third nations could freely enter the European Union through those two countries.
Fabius's comments come amid a heated debate in France over the treatment of Roma migrants, predominantly from Romania and Bulgaria. The French interior minister, Manuel Valls, last week said the Roma could not be integrated into French society and should be sent home.
Restrictions that imposed passport checks on Romanians and Bulgarians were put in place when the two countries joined the EU in 2007 and are due to be lifted in January. A vote on the accession is expected before the end of the year.
