site.btaNo Need for Semi-European Solutions Like Mini-Schengen Area, MEP Eva Maydell Says

In a BTA interview, MEP Eva Maydell (European People's Party/GERB) said that it would be very difficult for Bulgaria to fight for full Schengen membership with an unstable government. In her words, the most important thing at the moment is for Bulgaria to focus on convincing Austria that it should enter Schengen by land (at end-2023 Bulgaria entered Schengen by air and sea only). Maydell attended the European People's Party's Congress in Bucharest on March 6 and 7.

"I know that there is a domestic political situation in Austria and that this topic is part of their election campaign. That is why it is good not to waste time and to convince the other EU countries that whatever happens in Austria, Bulgaria and Romania cannot be held hostage in their [Austria’s] internal political situation," Maydell said.

Commenting on the idea of abolishing border controls between Bulgaria, Romania and Greece and the creation of the so-called Mini-Schengen Area has never been widely accepted over the years.

"All we see from Schengen is the abolition of border controls, but behind that are much more complicated procedures. This is exactly why anyone who truly understands how this system works would not make such proposals [to create a Mini-Schengen Area]. At the moment, the important thing for Bulgaria is to focus on convincing Austria that we should enter by land [...] There is no need to look for semi-European solutions like Mini-Schengen. What is important is how we can achieve common solutions in the EU and how we work towards that," Maydell explained.

She added that it is difficult to predict when exactly Bulgaria will become a full member of the Schengen area.