Deputy Prime Minister Kuneva Checks Sofia Airport's Readiness to Work in Conformity with Schengen Requirements

Deputy Prime Minister for European Policy and Institutional Affairs Meglena Kuneva Sunday told journalists that she will not stop trying to convince all critics of Bulgaria's entry in Schengen that the country is ready. Kuneva and Deputy Interior Minister Filip Gounev visited Sofia Airport to check if it is ready to work in conformity with the Schengen requirements. 

"For me, Schengen is an economy and we acknowledge the professional efforts of the people working here. In the three years of the system's functioning, there have been only two cases which have been recognized outside the country as potentially dangerous, with invalid documents. Everything else has been stopped here, in Bulgaria, and I will not stop explaining this," Kuneva underscored. 

She noted that at least 300 million euro have been spent on the Bulgarian borders' protection under Schengen requirements. "Thisis money which should have its return through our economy and reputation," she said. Resources have been invested not only in technical equipment but also in personnel's preparation. "I am 

extremely concerned that the invested equipment, which is very complex, and the systems worth million euro that connect us with Europe, will get old without Bulgaria having been able to receive back the benefits of these investments," Kuneva said.