German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday her country is monitoring Bulgaria's effort to fight crime and corruption and supports its bid to join the 25-nation Schengen Zone that allows passport-free travel in most of the European Union, Bloomberg reported.
The German premier arrived in Sofia on Monday to discuss bilateral projects and Bulgaria's plan to become a Schengen member, along with neighboring Romania, in March 2011.
"We will evaluate the readiness of each country to join the Schengen Zone depending on how well it has covered the list of criteria. Germany supports Bulgaria's efforts to join the Schengen Zone," Bloomberg quoted Merkel as telling reporters.