Bulgarian government presses for decision on Bulgaria’s entry to Schengen area
The Bulgarian government keeps insisting that the EU take a final decision on Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen area, said for the BNR spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry Vessela Tcherneva after the Netherlands announced it would block the country's membership until July 2012, at least, when the EC would issue its report on Bulgaria's progress in fighting organised crime and corruption.
Holland would like to see at least 2 positive reports on Bulgaria's justice and internal affairs before lifting its veto on Bulgaria and Romania's entry to the Schengen space, confirmed ambassador Karel van Kesteren. However, the Bulgarian government is hoping for a compromise by year's end, relying on the appeal of President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy for a step-by-step accession to the border-free zone, Ms. Tcherneva recalled. (Source: BNR)