According to EU Helpers, Vlad Gheorghe, a member of the European Parliament, has verified the decision.
The JHA agenda for December of last year includes the subject as well. But Austria was against these two countries joining, and in the case of Bulgaria, the Netherlands was against it as well as Vienna.
The reference in the Council's agenda, according to Gheorghe, is nearly exact to the one from the previous year, when Austria's veto kept both nations waiting outside of Europe for an additional year.
Hotnews.ro was informed by sources that Romania requested that the matter be included on the JHA agenda, and progress is being made in the discussions.
The European Commission recently stated that it would be willing to carry out a fresh fact-finding trip in Sofia to assess the nation's preparedness to join the Schengen Area.
The decision was made in response to a request for a second fact-finding expedition to Bulgaria made to the Commission by the Dutch authorities.
The Commission emphasized once more that these two Balkan nations have fulfilled all prerequisites to become the newest members of the Schengen Zone.
Fernando Grande-Marlaska, the interior minister of Spain, stated last month that he hoped Romania and Bulgaria will be officially admitted to Schengen by December of this year.
The Minister emphasized that Spain, which is currently holding the six-month rotating presidency of the EU Council, regards the matter as one of its top concerns.
But the authorities in Austria and, in the case of Bulgaria, the Netherlands, are still against these two countries joining.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer reaffirmed last month that his nation retains its veto power on this matter, emphasizing that the choice has nothing to do with these two nations.
Authorities in the Netherlands also reaffirmed last month that they would not lift their veto in regards to Bulgaria's admittance to the Schengen Zone.