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I am Dutch (by birth, not by feeling/ideas) and I think they will keep voting against.

Most Dutch have an enormous bias against countries that used to fall under the "Iron curtain". They are corrupt (not my personal view). As against southern European countries (remember Greece some time ago). They are lazy and stupid (also not my personal view). In this case they blame Bulgaria (and Romania) for having more refugees than they want (they want 0). The Bulgarian & Romanian borders are not protected enough to stop the refugees according the Netherlands (and Austria)

Most Dutch still have the colonialism ideas that they are much better than any other nation. And, I am from the 1960s, this became worse after 1985. Dutch are not open minded etc. They are good in 1 thing and that is hiding their biases.

Bulgaria meets the requirements and it would be a good boost to the economy.

Unfortunately the north and west of Europe still doesn't really trust the east and the south, despite the evident issues in the countries voting no.

It might help if a stable Bulgarian government had been formed after the elections. The ongoing uncertainty doesn't look good to outsiders. Almost as bad as the chaos of the UK leadership over the past year! But sadly the bias among people looking to blame others for the issues in their own countries still exists, no matter what Bulgaria does.

@GB_2_BG being British but living in both the Netherlands and Bulgaria, I must say I do get it look...., let's not look through bg with Rose tinted glasses, I love that place but the fact is the corruption is unreal, the prime minister at one stage had that photo of him having loads of cash in his bedside drawer and a gun..., now if that the head of government... can you imagine what the lower rungs are like and dare I saw the professional criminals..fact is the corruption is rampant, fortunately it does not effect me or anyone to be honest that I know as it more for those higher rungs of society, Holland on the other hand doesn't have the best experience with Bulgaria as there was a huge scandal a few years ago with  a Bulgarian criminal group scamming the benefits system here..., so I get it and I think until Bulgaria addresses the elephant in the room the Austrian or Dutch chain of thought won't change and maybe its for the best.....

@sheikm @holistictherapy cool to hear the ordinary Dutch speak up

All that coke coming through Rotterdam makes Holland smt like a narcostate. Drugs are more dangerous than refugees and benefit cheats?

I think Holland could also protect the border better? This is why I dont fully get their problem with BG.

I still don't understand what is the big deal about Schengen. Isn't it only when you line up on a separate queue to enter Schengen country? What else? With my Canadian passport I'm not entitled to special treatment, with my Bulgarian password it is just about the same. In fact, my Bg ID is sufficient.

I want to see your unhappy faces when you line up to enter Canada, we all wait the same way regardless of passport's origin.

@Slater390  There aint no queue as there aint no border. Whatever man but dont make it about Canada.

You may be right, once I traveled from Sofia to Munich and on entry was expected to show my Canadian passport.

What is so important about Schengen for  Bulgarian I'd holders?

@Slater390 cos you entered the Schengen zone in Munich? start a thread? Ask a Bulgarian?

@GB_2_BG problems in NL ( way way way worse then in BG by the way) are neither here nor there, original question was why NL would veto BG joining schengen. Unfortunately the fact is that BG are a major port for trafficking of all sorts ( in addition tomthe corruption) and the border with Asia ( through Turkey) are porous as hell, leaving an unrestricted road directly into Western Europe is probably the main reason for a veto..., but hey just my 2 cents who knows other then those government hacks

@Sheikm the border with Asia would hardly be unrestricted. Turkey is not joining Schengen so the border would stay.

Not porous one compared to Holland and Belgium ports.

Anyways anyways anyways The Netherlands supported Romania's bid but opposed Bulgaria's. Just wow!?!?

Austria vetoed both. Feel the love in the union there.

Croatia got in. Well done them Croats. Well done. No problems in Hrvatska with arms smuggling or corruption so open them gates.

Bulgaria will maybe get another chance in 11 years. A sad day for Bulgarians.

Does anyone get Austria and Hollands position on vetoeing Bulgaria? What a blow.
-@GB_2_BG

Yes, and follow the news.

@Slater390 There aint no queue as there aint no border. Whatever man but dont make it about Canada.
-@GB_2_BG

Sorry but you are talking rubbish.

Hello everyone,

Please note that I am closing this thread as you already know, topics related to politics are not allowed on the forum.

All the best,

Bhavna

[Topic Closed]