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Interior Minister: Bulgaria Part of Schengen by Mid-2011
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Bulgaria's Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, is on an official visit to Brussels with a busy agenda, including meetings at OLAF, NATO, the EP, and the EC, among others. Photo by BGNES
Bulgaria is now adhering to all criteria for entry in the Schengen zone, Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, stated.
The Minister, who spoke during his official trip to Brussels, voiced firm belief the country will be part of Schengen by the first half of 2011.
"We now see our joining of Schengen to happen during the Hungarian EU Presidency, around March or April of the next year. This is also our desire, but of course it would depend on those who have the authority to make the final call," Tsvetanov said.
The Minister met Tuesday the Member of the European Parliament, Carlos Coelho, who is the EP rapporteur on Schengen, and informed after the discussions he appraised Coelho on Bulgaria's progress and the measures undertaken by the cabinet regarding the Zone accession.
The EP has consulting functions in the Schengen expansion, while the key factor are the 25 EU Member States already in the Zone.
Tsvetanov further pointed out the last of a total of seven checkups regarding Bulgaria's Schengen preparedness is scheduled for December and would deal in particular with the application of the Zone's information system.
When asked if Romania, deemed less ready for the entry, could impede Bulgaria's membership, the Minister explained the two countries work jointly to comply to the criteria.
"Bulgaria's accession is important for Bulgarians traveling to Greece and Romania and the Romanians traveling to Bulgaria. I hope our entry in the Zone would also show our reliability to our US partners so that they can lift the visa requirement," Tsvetanov said.
While in Brussels, the Minister also held talks with with L?szl? Andor, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion and reported Bulgaria will have to respond to a large volume of questions regarding funds from NGOs and the EU used for the integration of Roma and the real results from this use.
"The conclusions right now are not very promising," Tsvetanov stated.
The Minister also met with the acting director of the European Anti-Fraud Office OLAF, Nicholas Ilett, NATO representatives and MEPs from the European People's Party (EPP).
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