Bulgaria Open to EU Integration, Ready to Contribute to NATO security

In the middle of June the Bulgarian President stated that Bulgaria is open towards further integration in the European Union and that the country is willing to contribute to the collective defense of NATO. The president stated that on a joint press conference with Anibal Cavaco Silva, his Portuguese counterpart. These are among the ambitions plans of Bulgaria to integrate in the European Union by 2018, as well as to join the Schengen zone, accept the unified banking supervisory system and the exchange rate mechanism between its national currency – the Bulgarian lev and the Euro.

During the conference, the President expressed his belief that soon the efforts of Bulgaria will be noticed and will allow the country to move to the first stage of its accepting in the travel free Schengen area. The first stage of Schengen entry includes opening of the air and sea borders. The President of Bulgaria further expressed his gratitude for the support that his country received by Portugal, concerning the entry of Bulgaria into NATO, EU and now the attempts to enter the Schengen visa-free passport-free zone. The president of Portugal stated that Bulgaria has already made serious efforts to fulfill all requirements to join the Schengen zone.