EC confirms its full support for Bulgaria's accession to Schengen

"You have our full support for Schengen. All the conditions for Schengen accession have been met," European Commission (EC) Vice President Vera Jourova said to Prime Minister Acad. Nikolai Denkov in Brussels on October 26. She recalled that the same position was advocated by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Věra Jourová highly appreciated Bulgaria's efforts to protect the external border of the European Union. In her opinion, this should be taken into account by the other member states. The EC expects Dutch experts to visit the area of the Bulgarian border in the upcoming mission in November.

Jourova noted that the termination of the Cooperation and Evaluation Mechanism for Bulgaria was something positive. From now on, Bulgaria and Romania will be assessed along with all other member states on the basis of objective criteria under the EU's annual rule of law mechanism.

The Prime Minister briefed the EC Vice President on the government's priorities, on which the cabinet is working hard. Jourova congratulated Acad. Denkov for the political will for the adoption of the anti-corruption legislation and the forthcoming amendments to the Constitution.

The Prime Minister will present Bulgaria's case for joining the Schengen area at the European Council (EU) meeting, which is taking place in the Belgian capital today and tomorrow.

"Everybody can see and we hear comments from everywhere that the changes in the laws are going at a pace that is in line with the most optimistic expectations and with a quality that is good enough and in line with the expectations and requirements of the European Commission, the Venice Commission, the Basel Institute. So we are making progress," the Prime Minister told journalists today.

The reforms the government has undertaken are important not only because of our accession to Schengen.

"Bulgarians need these changes. We want a better justice system, a better protected border and we will have them," Acad. Denkov said.