Bulgaria has fulfilled all technical requirements for accession to the Schengen Area and joining the border-free zone is a matter of a political decision, according to Yavor Haytov, Deputy Parliament Speaker.

Speaking after a visit to Brussels, Haytov told the Bulgarian National Radio that Bulgaria had been invited to join a project aimed at combating financial and tax fraud in the EU.

He said that he had declared in a statement at the Benelux Parliament that Bulgaria had its contribution to the fact that MPs were able to hold meetings undisturbed, adding that scores of Bulgarian Border Police officers were constantly guarding the border with Turkey, preventing illegal immigrants from entering the EU.

Haytov noted that he had had an important meeting with the Benelux Secretary-General Jan van Laarhoven.

“Bulgaria was invited to join a project aimed at detecting any type of financial and tax crime on the territory of the EU. This does not involve any sort of financial burden for Bulgaria, “ he clarified.

He argued that Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev would welcome the idea as the Bulgarian government was trying to plug all holes in the budget related to smuggling.

He underscored the need for financial discipline.

As regards the protest of Interior Ministry officials against changes to the retirement conditions, he said that the demands were fair, yet the decision to resort to strike action had been hasty.

Haytov recommended new rounds of talks on the demands of Interior Ministry employees.

He said that the authorities had to focus on attempts to stop the strike and ensure at least partial satisfaction of the requirements of the protesters.

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