EU justice and home affairs ministers do not plan to vote on a decision to accept Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Area when they meet 24-25 February, according to EP rapporteur Carlos Coelho.

Accordingly, the European Parliament will not have to issue a position on the two member states' progress before that date, stated the Portugese MEP.

Coelho once again voiced his disappointment in the fact that the EP has been denied access by the European Council to the progress reports on Bulgaria and Romania.

Only the rapporteur has been given access to the reports, but could not make copies or even write down notes, while his fellow committee members have not been admitted to read the documents at all.

Coelho expressed his surprise and concern at the Council's "inexplainable" move, saying it hampers the work of Parliament. MEPs have been further voicing demands to have more leverage in the decisions on Schengen matters.

Speaking for the Bulgarian National Radio, Coelho said that he has proposed to fellow MEPs to give the Council a deadline of May 2 to present them with the full progress documentation on Schengen.

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