site.btaInterior Minister's Cabinet Chief Krastev, Italian Ambassador Zarra Discuss Bulgaria's Schengen Accession

Bulgaria's Schengen membership was discussed at a meeting between the Interior Minister's Political Chief of Cabinet Vasil Krastev and Italy's Ambassador to Bulgaria Giuseppina Zarra, the Interior Ministry said on Wednesday. Italy's support for Bulgaria's Schengen membership was confirmed during the talks, which took place at the Interior Ministry building in Sofia.

The two officials discussed security threats in the context of the conflict in the Middle East. Krastev briefed Zarra on the measures taken by the Interior Ministry to strengthen the security of the diplomatic missions in Sofia and assured that the Interior Ministry is ready to react quickly if necessary.

Both sides highly appreciated the bilateral cooperation Italy and Bulgaria and stressed that they will continue to actively interact. 

On October 27, Bulgaria's Schengen membership was a topic of discussion between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel and European Commission (EC) Vice-President Vera Jourova. "I thank the European Commission for the strong and consistent support expressed for Bulgaria's accession to Schengen. The message is clear and unambiguous - Bulgaria should be in Schengen", Gabriel said at the time.