Sofia to meet certain conditions to enter Schengen

As of beginning of March, Sofia and Bucharest cities have remained outside the Schengen zone. Restrictions have been set again, which remind people from Bulgaria and Romania about the separation before year 1989. According to Germany, the two countries have still issues to arrange. Bulgaria’s main problems are the organized crime and the corruption. Locals however, find this blocking offensive and point poverty and the low standard of living as the real reason that made the European countries so reluctant to let Bulgaria into the Schengen zone. The country’s bid to be admitted however is postponed, but not blocked forever.

In October 2012, Germany also called for certain travel restrictions for the countries on the Balkan peninsula, including imposition of visa requirements. Even if this idea was shared by other members of the European Union like France and Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands, and even by Great Britain, it was later dropped. This was so, as these countries were more afraid of the Roma population trying to enter their territories rather than the regular citizens from the Balkan countries. Thus, no such restrictions are applied today. Bulgaria is hopeful to enter the free travel Schengen zone in the future, when it finally meets the requirements of the European Union members.