site.btaJustice Minister: Bulgaria Observes All Schengen Entry Requirements, No Need to Set New Conditions

Bulgaria observes all requirements for entry in Schengen, and no new conditions should be set for the country, Justice Minister Atanas Slavov said on bTV on Sunday evening. He was commenting on information released in Austrian media earlier in the day that Vienna is willing to ease its veto on Schengen enlargement with Bulgaria and Romania when it comes to air traffic under certain conditions. 

"As far as I know, the negotiations will continue in the coming weeks, because the Bulgarian governent from day one has been working on full Schengen membership," he said. In his words, if the option with the land border is not possible at the moment, that is still an opening of the door and a passing through that door. "Personally, I would consider it a success," Slavov commented, adding that the Government is working on full membership in the Schengen area.

Asked if the price for Bulgaria getting the green light for partial accession to Schengen is the welcoming of more refugees from Afghanistan and Syria, Slavov said that no new conditions should be set for the country's entry in the border-free area, because the thesis of the Bulgarian government is that the counrty is ready. "It is very important to note that the changes we are carrying out in justice and counter-corruption have led to the Netherlands lifting its veto [on Bulgaria's entry in Schengen]," Slavov also said.