"Everyone says: Bulgaria [should join] Schengen immediately. Only that nowadays it is not our interest. If they want to accept us, we will gladly accept, but now it's our turn to tell them: You had been playing some games with Bulgaria for years, now we are in no rush for Schengen."

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov on the possible accession of his country into the Schengen borderless area, a issue that has reemerged onto the agenda in light of the migrant crisis.

Borisov has advocated the preservation of the Schengen system across Europe instead of the construction of border fences between its member states that some of the latter have put up to curb the arrivals of migrants. 

Bulgaria's entry into Schengen has been blocked for years by several EU member states that have said the country needs to address serios shortcomings in border protection, the justice system and the fight against corruption.