site.btaDeputy PM Kuneva: Underestimating Entry of Bulgaria, Romania in Border-free Schengen Area Extremely Unhealthful

Deputy PM Kuneva: Underestimating Entry of Bulgaria, Romania in Border-free Schengen Area  Extremely Unhealthful

Sofia, June 29 (BTA) - Underestimating the entry of Bulgaria and
Romania in the border-free Schengen Area at the moment is
extremely unhealthful, Deputy Prime Minister for European Policy
and Institutional Affairs Meglena Kuneva said on Monday. Kuneva
attended the opening ceremony of a project against trafficking
in humans.

Kuneva described as a wrong policy the fact that Bulgaria and
Romania, for no reason whatsoever, "are doomed to be second-rate
countries" in respect of security. She said that Bulgaria's not
being part of the Schengen Area is detrimental to both the
country's and the European security system. The Deputy Prime
Minister said that Bulgaria will continue its active work under
the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism in the area of
justice and home affairs but noted that the Schengen policy is a
different kind of policy which should not be used "as the whip
to make Bulgaria fulfil its obligations".

Dwelling on the anti-trafficking project, Kuneva said that one
of its goals is to strengthen even further the cooperation
between Bulgarian law-enforcement officers and their colleagues
in the Schengen Area. Kuneva thanked the Norwegian Government
which provides funding to the project and noted that this takes
place at a time when Bulgaria does need such aid.

Under the project, 200 Interior Ministry officers, judges,
investigating officers and prosecutors will receive special
training on combatting trafficking in humans. Attending the
opening ceremony were also Director of the European Institute
Foundation Lyubov Panayotova and Secretary of the National
Commission for Combatting Trafficking in Humans Kamelia
Dimitrova.