Bulgaria in Schengen: possible in 2018

The Foreign Minister of Bulgaria, Mr. Christian Vigenin informed that it is most likely that Bulgaria will receive an invitation in order to become a member of the Schengen travel free zone. According to the expectations of the minister, this is supposed to be a final decision based on solid and well considered observations. The Foreign Minister informed the Bulgarian society that he expects that the opening of the Schengen travel free zone will be done in two stages. The first stage of the Schengen opening would be by air and later on, the second stage would be by land. Naturally, this opening of the Schengen passport free travel zone will be done later and not automatically. Most probably Bulgaria will become a member of the Schengen agreement in several years period. According to the Foreign Minister of Bulgaria, Mr. Christian Vigenin, Bulgaria will enter Schengen visa free zone by year 2018.

Currently Bulgaria is not part of the Schengen zone, yet de facto and even not de jure, Bulgaria feels as part of the Schengen zone. This is so as the country is applying all the regulations and rules validated by Schengen. By year 2018, the minister expects the European Union monitoring on the Bulgarian judiciary system to be removed. He also believes that at that time Bulgaria will keep the presidency of the European Union. The Foreign Minister was on an official visit in Britain, where he was assured that no discrimination rules shall be applied to the Bulgarians working there.