site.btaDeputy PM Kuneva Visits Berlin to Continue Dialogue on Bulgaria's Entry in Schengen

Deputy PM Kuneva Visits Berlin to Continue Dialogue on Bulgaria's Entry in Schengen

Sofia, March 19 (BTA) - Visiting Berlin on Thursday, Deputy
Prime Minister for European Policy and Institutional Affairs
Meglena Kuneva told journalists that Bulgaria's German partners
estimate highly her country's readiness in terms of the
technical criteria for joining Schengen. Bulgaria continues to
lead a dialogue and to prove more difficult things, such as the
country's progress in the fight against corruption and the
judicial reform, Kuneva said as quoted by the Government
Information Service.

During her visit to Berlin, Kuneva met with German Interior
Minister Thomas de Maiziere, with whom she discussed the
Bulgarian Government's steps taken in the sphere of
anti-corruption and justice, including the forthcoming draft
bills in these fields, as well as Bulgaria's position that the
entry in Schengen is a security issue not only for Bulgaria but
also for Europe. Kuneva described as reasonable the approach of
gradual removal of the Schengen borders, adding that an
agreement has been reached on new cooperation in border control.


Another key topic of the talks with the German Interior Minister
was the overall security of the European borders, the crossing
of foreign fighters and the EU's common asylum and migration
policy, Kuneva told journalists. The Bulgarian Deputy PM and
Thomas de Maiziere also discussed Germany's idea of a quota
distribution of the burden from the migration flows to Europe
and the Dublin Regulation.

Kuneva also held talks with the German Federal Government
Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration, Aydan
Ozoguz. They discussed the German experience in the integration
of refugees and the challenges both countries face in this
sphere.

Earlier on Thursday, Kuneva and National Assembly Foreign Policy
Committee Chair Dzhema Grozdanova conferred with the Chairman
of the German Bundestag's Committee on the Affairs of the
European Union, Gunther Krichbaum.