Underestimating the Presence of Bulgaria in Schengen is Not Healthy

On a press conference themed “Multidisciplinary approach to counteracting trafficking in human beings through a transfer of knowledge and good practices of Schengen Area member states and Norwegian experience, in particular”, the Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister for European Policies Coordination and Institutional Affairs Meglena Kuneva stated that the presence of Romania and Bulgaria in the Schengen area should not be underestimated. If that goes on Bulgaria and Romania will be accepted as countries of less importance in terms of security and thus they are left outside the Schengen space.

The Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister for European Policies Coordination and Institutional Affairs Meglena Kuneva expressed her hope that the country will continue to work in the field of the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification (CVM). The conference marked the start of a new project for counteracting trafficking of human beings of the European Institute foundation, which is financed by a Norwegian financial mechanism. The project focuses on the raising the capacity of Bulgarian state institutions in their fight against organized crime and trafficking in humans through educating employees or increasing the knowledge they already possess.