Bulgaria Attempts to Sway EU about Schengen Readiness
Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, is participating Wednesday in a conference in Brussels dedicated to the enlargement of the Schengen Zone.
The information was provided by the Interior Ministry's press center.
The conference is titled EU Migration Policy in the Light of the Schengen Enlargement while Tsvetanov's report to be presented there - Bulgaria on the Road to Schengen. It includes information on the National Strategy in the Area of Migration Policy, Sheltering and Integration 2011-2020, which was approved by the Bulgarian cabinet in February, 2011.
Bulgaria's Interior Minister and his Romanian counterpart, Traian Igas, Minister of Interior and Administrative Reform, are scheduled to meet with Cecilia Malmstrom, the EU Home Affairs Commissioner. On Tuesday, a spokesperson of Malmstrom clarified for the media that the European Commission only has a consulting role when it comes to Schengen enlargement. The Commissioner, however, had made several statements in support of the Bulgarian and Romanian membership.
The topic of the enlargement of Schengen will be also discussed during the meeting of all Interior Ministers of the EU, scheduled for September 22 and 23.
It is further expected that by the end of the month, the EC will be ready with its proposal for amendments to the Schengen Code, which will allow a temporary reinstatement of national borders in case of emergency situations./Source: Sofia News Agency/