EU ban on eastern duo threatens border ideal

The European Union has decided to keep Bulgaria and Romania out of its borderless travel zone even though the two EU nations have met the required technical standards.

The move yesterday by EU interior ministers came amid increasing fears of illegal immigration and crime across the continent and put further pressure on the Schengen system of unfettered travel across 26 European nations.

"What worries a number of member states is corruption may thrive in these countries and thus can weaken the protection of the borders," French interior minister Claude Gueant said of Romania and Bulgaria. He proposed a system of putting EU officials alongside national border guards as an extra check.

The borderless travel system has already been hurt by Denmark's plan to restore customs checks and a public spat between Italy and France over thousands of Tunisian refugees flooding across the Mediterranean Sea over the past months.

Germany criticized Denmark yesterday for "coldly undermining" one of the cornerstones of EU unity.

Bulgaria and Romania were given a cold shoulder by the EU ministers only one day after the EU parliament voted that they were ready to join Schengen.

The Netherlands held off on any quick decision for the two, since there still was doubt whether they were strong enough to assure effective control of the external border of the Schengen zone. That doomed the move, which needs unanimity.

"It is too early to take a decision now, and it may take some time," said Dutch immigration minister Gerd Leers.