Will Bulgaria join the Schengen Area by the end of 2014

The Foreign Minister of Bulgaria, Mr. Kristian Vigenin has expressed his hopes about Bulgaria being able to access the Schengen area by the end of 2014. In front of BGNES news agency, the Foreign Minister stated that he does not expect for a decision to be reached on the entry of Bulgaria into Schengen by the end of the six months Greek Presidency in July 2014. Yet, the Foreign Minister hopes that there will be a positive decision on the Bulgarian entry into the travel free zone of Schengen by the end of this year. Mr. Kristian Vigenin informed the news agency that the efforts of the authorities to achieve the goal of Bulgaria being part of the visa free zone continue. He also stressed that the coming new European Parliament elections in May are not the best possible moment to bring up that special issue.

According to the Foreign Minister of Bulgaria Mr. Kristian Vigenin, Bulgaria was not obliged to take part at the Geneva international peace conference Conference on Syria at the end of January, which was attended by only nine out of the 28 member states of the European Union. Mr. Kristian Vigenin explained though that the refugee issue is among the top priorities and issues to be solved during the Greek presidency of the European Union Council. The rotating presidency of the European Union will be taken over by Italy.