Bulgaria Should Move Ahead and Enter the Schengen Zone

A top government official from Bulgaria stated that Bulgaria needs to move ahead, adopt the Euro currency and join the visa-free travel zone of Schengen. Bulgaria is a country in the geographic periphery of Europe, which however is exposed to all crises on the continent. Bulgaria entered the European Union in 2007 with restrictions, yet the country tries to live up to the regulations and norms of the European Union, even if being hit by the migration crises through its borders.

According to the European Union and the authorities in charge of managing the EU funds and economic policy, Bulgaria is ready to join the Euro currency. It a public debt of 27 % of economic output and budget deficit of 1.9% of the domestic gross product, where the two figures are less the limit that the European Union places. In other words, Bulgaria will not be a burden to the European Union.

It is ironic, but Bulgaria even if covering all requirements to become part of the passport-free Schengen zone, was not admitted to this travel free area for political reasons, yet now it guards one of the most important external borders of the European Union.