BRUSSELS (AP) — The prime minister of the Netherlands says he will continue to oppose integrating Romania and Bulgaria into the European Union's visa-free travel zone until both countries carry out reforms.
Mark Rutte said hours ahead of Thursday’s opening of an EU summit that the two must first do more to reform their justice system and combat corruption and organized crime.
The Netherlands and Finland have been at the forefront of moves to keep the two nations out.
A decision requires unanimity among member nations of the Schengen visa-free travel zone.
Only last month, the EU said the two east European nations had been too slow to enact reforms and the Netherlands insisted it would not change its opposition ahead of the summer.
