site.btaInterior Minister: Bulgaria Ready to Immediately Reorganize Airport Checks If Admitted to Schengen in January

If Bulgaria is admitted to Schengen in January, the country is ready to immediately reorganize airport checks, Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov told BTA here on Tuesday. He recalled that Bulgaria has long met all the requirements for Schengen accession. “Moreover, our country received another positive report at the end of November,” he noted.

Stoyanov expressed expectations that the Dutch parliament will vote on a decision to support Bulgaria's accession into Schengen in the next few days.

Austria remains against the accession, as it stated that the Schengen area is not functioning as it should in general. “Bulgaria cannot take a position. Active work is going on at all levels,” Stoyanov added.

In a few days, a new technique will be put into operation to test drivers for suspected alcohol and drug use. Separately, a structure in the forensic sector of the Interior Ministry has been reinforced, Kalin Stoyanov said.

He said the staff of the Military Medical Academy was increased and will work on a round-the-clock basis. Thus, there will no longer be a six-month wait for forensic examinations, the Interior Minister said.