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

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


Sofia, December 14 (BTA) - 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. "This
is 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.

The Deputy Prime Minister congratulated Sofia Airport's team on
the work done and expressed the hope that the EU Member States
will recognize Bulgaria's efforts. "Let us hope we will start
from the airport but continue, border by border, to bring down
what is separating us from Europe," she noted.

Sofia Airport passengers from Schengen countries will use
different corridors - lifts and stairs - from the passengers
from non-Schengen states. By June 30, 2015, the last four paths
of Bourgas Airport's electronic gates will be constructed and
this will close the process of making the airport compatible
with Schengen rules, the airport's management said.

PK/DS

/ДЛ/