French Ambassador to Romania Henri Paul has said that Bulgaria and Romania could join Schengen in end-2012. The Ambassador has also confirmed that the air borders of Romania and Bulgaria are very likely to become EU external borders in September.
If EC’s report due on July 20 comes positive, the two countries air borders will be opened first, while sea and land borders will be opened at a second stage.
However, the position of some current Schengen members towards the two candidate countries differ considerably.