site.btaMEP Kyuchyuk: All Resources Should Be Directed towards Bulgaria's Goal to Become Schengen Full Member by End of 2023

All resources should be directed towards the realization of Bulgaria's goal to become a full member of Schengen by the end of the year, MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk told BTA on Tuesday. "Our focus should be to use every opportunity to mobilize partners until the last days of the year," he added.

"If there is no binding nature in regards to Bulgaria's full accession to Schengen, this does not seem like a serious proposal," Kyuchyuk commented on Austria's new stance that it would accept Bulgaria and Romania's accession to Schengen for air travel provided that several conditions are met.

Bulgaria cannot accept migrants outside the legally established mechanisms, which are part of European law, he pointed out. "We have already committed to take 200 migrants coming from Cyprus and Greece and as far as I know more than 40 have already been admitted," Kyuchyuk added.

“Schengen needs a reform, but by leaving Bulgaria and Romania out we are not solving any of the issues facing Schengen as a system. Quite the opposite - we are destroying trust because the Schengen area is based on the trust of its member states. Schengen must work to make travel as fast and easy as possible,” Kyuchyuk stated.

“A large part of Bulgarian citizens live with the fair feeling that the EU does not give them the opportunity for deeper integration, especially when we have met all the criteria,” he said in response to a question whether the delay of Bulgaria's accession to Schengen strengthens euroscepticism in the country.

Separating Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen applications would be a strategic mistake. It does not serve the interest of Bulgaria, Romania or the EU, the MEP underlined.