site.btaDeputy PM Kuneva: Now is Not the Best Time to Negotiate on Schengen Membership

Deputy PM Kuneva:Now is Not the Best Time to Negotiate on Schengen Membership

Sofia, October 5 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva
said on Monday that now that walls are being put up, the
situation is not good for negotiations on Schengen area
membership. The EU is expected to hold a Home Affairs Council on
 October 8 and the question of Bulgaria's expected accession to
Schengen can be raised during that meeting, Kuneva said. The
next opportunity will be at the European Council at the end of
October, she added.

"There is no doubt that the enlargement of the Schengen area
with the addition of Bulgaria and Romania, even if only by
removing the air borders, will make Schengen an even more stable
 zone of security. Unfortunately, the public opinion is part of
the equation, and now that walls are being put up and a
safeguard clause is being introduced for Schengen, the
atmosphere is not favourable for negotiations," Kuneva said.

She observed that before the serious refugee crisis set in, most
 countries were in favour of enlarging the Schengen area by
opening the air border with Bulgaria, but over the last few days
 there have been more reasons for concern. "Anyway, Bulgaria is
certainly part of the Schengen area, pursuant to the EU
accession agreement," she said. According to Kuneva, Bulgaria's
accession to Schengen will send an important message that this
is a steady policy which is here to stay.

"Schengen is a security area. Just as the euro area survived the
 financial crisis, Schengen will emerge stronger if the message
is sent that the countries want to join it. On our part, the
agreement has been fulfilled: it says that we will join Schengen
 when we are technically prepared. I expect our partners to make
 a decisive step," Kuneva said.