European Interests Require Bulgaria to be Part of the Schengen Area

In a recent interview for a popular News Agency in Bulgaria, the Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva stated that Bulgaria being out of the Schengen area is against the interests of Europe and Bulgaria, especially in times when there are threats by terrorist organizations. Bulgaria is seeking to join the Schengen are including sea and air borders by October. This partial Schengen membership will increase the security of those countries that were not convinced of the benefits of Bulgaria to join the Schengen area.

The Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister for European Policies Coordination and Institutional Affairs Meglena Kuneva made it clear that Bulgaria will engage in talks that concern this two-stage accession to the passport and visa free travel zone of Schengen. The accession on the sea and air borders will be then followed by accession on the land borders. Unless that happens, Bulgaria will not be able to fully complete its duties which relate to the security of the European Union. The membership of Bulgaria in Schengen will turn the country into a very reliable and strong external border of the European Union. All authorities in Bulgaria, as well as the residents of the country feel that Bulgaria is absolutely ready to join the Schengen Area.