Sweden will not initiate a vote on Schengen membership for Bulgaria and Romania in the Council until the objections of the countries that oppose the move are withdrawn. The news was reported by the Swedish ambassador to the EU, Lars Danielsson, whose country took over the rotational presidency of the community on January 1.

He clarified that Sweden had never been against accepting the two countries in the free movement area, but there was no point in putting the topic on the agenda until it was clear that there was a reasonable chance of achieving approval in the Council. The Swedish Presidency will hold intensive consultations on how to proceed next. In December last year, Austria and the Netherlands blocked the admission of Bulgaria to Schengen, while Romania’s membership was blocked by Austria.