Question for written answer E-012058/2011 to the Commission Rule 117 Auke Zijlstra (NI)

Subject: : 'gateway' to the EU

Early each morning, some 200 people from Macedonia, and Ukraine gather eagerly outside the offices of the Directorate for Bulgarian Nationality in Sofia. Bulgaria has no hesitation in issuing these people with Bulgarian if they can simply show that they are of Bulgarian origin. However, the majority of these people say that they want a Bulgarian not because of their Bulgarian blood but merely for ‘pragmatic reasons’. In other words, alongside and , Bulgaria has now also become a convenient way in, a ‘gateway’ to the EU. The Macedonians, Moldovans and Ukrainians in question want a Bulgarian passport purely in order to be able to travel to other EU countries. Naturally, these ‘new Bulgarians’ do not stay in Bulgaria; they have scented the affluent West. The Netherlands will shortly have to face the consequences. Bulgaria poses a danger.

1. Is the Commission aware of the report, ‘Bulgarian passport opens the door to the West’1?

2. Does the Commission agree with the PVV that it is completely undesirable that Bulgaria should act as a production line issuing Bulgarian passports to Macedonians, Moldovans and Ukrainians, who can then go where they like within the EU and reside there? If not, why not?

3. Does the Commission agree with the PVV that the Netherlands must, if it so wishes, be able to close its borders and deny entry to the Macedonians, Moldovans and Ukrainians in question if they seek to enter the Netherlands? If not, why not?

4. Does the Commission agree with the PVV that, as a result, Bulgaria is a danger to the EU and to the Netherlands’ asylum and immigration policy and is contravening Article 79(1) of the TFEU? If not, why not?

1 http://www.presseurop.eu/nl/content/article/1259411-bulgaars-paspoort-opent-deur-naar-het-westen.

886774.EN PE 479.239