site.btaEuropean Commission Spokesperson: Alexey Petrov's Murder Unrelated to Bulgaria's Schengen Entry

Alexey Petrov's murder should not be mixed with Bulgaria's admission to Schengen which has its own trajectory and clear rules, European Commission Spokesperson Anitta Hipper said here on Thursday. She was asked how this incident would affect the country's accession to the free movement area, Bulgarian National Radio reported.

Hipper stressed that the Commission has been arguing for 12 years that Bulgaria and Romania are ready for Schengen. The Spokesperson expects the EU Council to adopt a decision this year allowing the two EU Member States to enter the Schengen Area. For the time being, the Netherlands and Austria block this development. The Netherlands cites organized crime and corruption in Bulgaria.