Latvia backs admission of Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia into Schengen

RIGA - At a meeting of the European Union's justice and interior ministers, Latvia backed the admission of Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia into the border check-free Schengen Area.

LETA was told at the Interior Ministry that Interior Minister Kristaps Eklons (Development/For) on Thursday attended the meeting of EU justice and interior ministers in Brussels. An agreement on the admission of Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia into the Schengen Area was one of the main topics on the meeting's agenda. 

Considering that said countries have met all requirements, Latvia expressed support for letting Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia join Schengen. 

The EU approved Croatia as the newest member of the Schengen zone from next month, but Austria and the Netherlands blocked Romania and Bulgaria from joining.

Croatia's accession from January 1 will make it the 27th member of Schengen, which would then comprise 23 of the EU's 27 countries, plus Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland.