site.btaBulgarian Deputy PM Kuneva Confers with Finnish Deputy PM Soini, Justice and Employment Minister Lindstrom

Bulgarian Deputy PM Kuneva Confers withFinnish Deputy PM Soini, Justice and Employment Minister Lindstrom

Helsinki, August 26 (BTA) - Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva conferred here on Tuesday with Finnish Deputy Prime Minister Timo Soini and Justice and Employment Minister Jari Lindstrom, the Government Information Service said in a press release. Kuneva is paying a working visit to Finland on Wednesday and Thursday.

Emerging from the meeting with Timo Soini, Kuneva said that Bulgaria is an island of stability in Southeastern Europe and accession to the Schengen agreement is an instrument for remaining one.

Bulgaria's aspirations to join Schengen and the refugee crisis dominated the talks.

Kuneva argued that Bulgaria is technically ready for Schengen and this has been unequivocally recognized by the EU institutions. She also said that she expects a positive decision to be made about Bulgaria's entry in October when the EU ministers of justice and home affairs will be meeting. "Accession to Schengen will in no way weaken our efforts to reform the judiciary and fight corruption," she said.

Kuneva also argued that Bulgaria does a successful job at guarding the EU external border.

The Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Justice and Employment Minister Lindstrom discussed the measures that the Bulgarian government is taking to combat corruption and contraband. She expressed her expectations that a major bill on preventing corruption among high-level office holders will be passed by the legislature at the start of the new political season.

The two sides also discussed the preparations for the Bulgarian presidency of the EU in 2018. Finland will take over the rotating presidency a year after Bulgaria and it is important to ensure consistency in the European policies, Kuneva said.