Ruse Horse

According to the previous report of the Working Party for Schengen Matters, Bulgaria had covered the Schengen Accession criteria as far as the implementation of the Information System and the Supplementary Information Request at the National Entry ( SIS/SIRENE) is concerned, but it had to put additional efforts into dealing with its Turkish border. Bulgaria's neighbor, Romania, had covered all necessary criteria and was ready to join the border free zone in March, the report said, but had to wait for their fellow EU newcomer to catch up.

On Monday, the report will be discussed for the first time by the Schengen Working Party. It is expected to be accepted either later in April or in May.

Bulgaria was originally supposed to join Schengen together with Romania in March 2011. However, its failure to meet some border control criteria, and the political opposition of France and Germany – backed to date by Sweden and Austria, among others – has left the hopes of the two Balkan states to make it into Schengen up in the air, leaving the Balkan states with the hope to be able to join the Agreement before the end of 2011.

In February, Sandor Pinter, Hungarian Minister of Interior, observing Bulgaria's Schengen fitness as Hungary holds the rotating EU Presidency, announced that EU experts will examine again Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen preparedness in late April or early May.

According to the previous report of the Working Party for Schengen Matters, Bulgaria has covered the Schengen Accession criteria as far as the implementation of the Information System and the Supplementary Information Request at the National Entry ( SIS/SIRENE) is concerned, but it has to put additional efforts into dealing with its Turkish border.

Tags: Schengen, Romania, Turkish border, Working Party for Schengen Matters, report