site.btaEC Representative in Sofia Says Decision on Bulgaria, Romania Entry in Schengen by Land Is Expected by Year's End

A decision about Bulgaria's and Romania's entry to the Schengen area by land is expected by the end of this year, said the Head of the European Commission Representation to Bulgaria, Yordanka Chobanova, here on Tuesday. "We believe that by the end of this year the decision will be made," she said during 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.

"On October 10, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, together with Hungary's Minister of the Interior, are to propose to the Council of the European Union to abolish checks at land borders," she said. 

The expectations and the strong support of the European Commission on this issue remain, Chobanova added.

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.

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 said. 

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.