site.btaEC Representative: Schengen Area Becomes Stronger with Bulgaria and Romania

The Schengen area becomes stronger with Bulgaria and Romania, according to the Head of the European Commission Representation to Bulgaria, Yordanka Chobanova. She believes that all countries stand to gain from Bulgaria's and Romania's membership of Schengen. "It is about trust, but it is also a powerful catalyst of economic growth," Chobanova told a discussion on "The Cost of Non-membership of Schengen for the Single Market: Impact on Bulgaria and Romania." The event was organized by the Bulgarian Industrial Association in collaboration with the European Economic and Social Committee.

Schengen air and sea border controls were lifted for Bulgaria and Romania on March 31. Land border controls remain in place for the two Balkan neighbours.

Chobanova said: "First, Schengen is trust and belonging to the largest free movement area. Second, Schengen is economy. Third, it is security. Schengen was conceived as the backbone of the EU."

She noted that the two countries are already integrated into the Schengen area. "We issue Schengen visas, which are most in demand by third-country individuals and businesses. The visas we issue allow free movement all the way from Greece to Iceland," she said.