Netherlands and Norway think Bulgaria does not make much progress

This summer the Ambassador of the Netherlands stated that his country is not satisfied with the progress that Bulgaria, having in mind the attempts that the country makes to enter the Schengen agreement. According to Mr. Karel van Kesteren, Bulgaria should make more efforts to fight crime and corruption in the country and to improve its judiciary system and should oppose the oligarchic model which is not compatible with the membership in the European Union. The Ambassador confirmed that Bulgaria is technically ready to enter the Schengen zone, however it is still not showing enough progress as far as the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism is concerned.

In the beginning of August it became clear that Norway is also against the Schengen entry of Bulgaria and Romania. Norway is against the enlargement of the Schengen zone, fearing a new wave of crime. The press in Norway states that local people are against the Roma people coming from the two countries and not against the regular citizens of Bulgaria and Romania. The entry of Bulgaria in the visa-free Schengen area is still in question. The Schengen bid of the two countries will be discussed this winter. If Romania and Bulgaria are accepted in the Schengen zone, most probably people from the two countries will be able to travel without passports throughout the countries from the Schengen agreement next spring.