14.07.2023
It is fully realistic for Bulgaria and Romania to accede to Schengen before the end of this year. Both countries have met all criteria for membership. Together they intend to bring the process to a successful completion as they persuade all their European partners that it is good for Europe itself that the two countries are Schengen members.
That followed from the meeting between Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Acad. Nikolai Denkov and his Romanian counterpart Ion-Marcel Ciolacu in Bucharest. They declared their intention to continue the active dialog with joint efforts, at political and expert level, with the countries that still have some hesitations. “What the Romanian leadership and the Bulgarian government are aspiring for is to meet absolutely all requirements as set – be it legislation, be it border control – so that we may be confident that from now onwards any criticism will be groundless,” Prime Minister Acad. Nikolai Denkov said. To reach this objective, specific action plans have been drawn up between the Ministries of Interior of Bulgaria and Romania and a discussion is underway about the launch of an effective communication campaign addressed to Austria and the Netherlands.
Bulgaria works hard on the issues brought up by the two partner countries. The bills that are the focus of the Netherlands have been submitted to Parliament. Regarding the migrant pressure which is a concern of Austria, to a greater extent, Bulgaria is developing a new approach in cooperation with Europol, Frontex, Romania and other countries of the region. Promotion of cooperation with Turkey to that end is likewise discussed. The aim is to crack down on the organized crime networks that engage in the illicit trafficking in migrants. Tangible results may be expected within a few months. The fact that people who unlawfully cross the national border are detained in Bulgaria is an indication of the country’s consistent effort to address this problem, the Prime Minister stressed.
Regarding the idea that Bulgaria and Romania should be free to open the Bulgarian-Romanian border if their accession to Schengen is vetoed, Acad. Nikolai Denkov was firm that Bulgaria is not considering “alternatives to Schengen.”
