Greece is fighting for Bulgaria to enter Schengen an hour earlier Europe | News from Bulgaria and the world
“Greece takes the initiative to strengthen the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area. This expansion will also bring direct benefits to Greece, which will be connected by land to other EU countries.”
This was stated by the Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum, Notis Mitarakis, who met with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehhammer on Thursday, and with Interior Minister Gerhard Karner on Wednesday.
In Austria, Notis Mitarakis advocates the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area.
Next week he will visit Sofia and Bucharest, reports Mitarakis.
Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU in 2007, and in 2011 successfully completed the evaluation procedures for entry into the Schengen area, as stated in the Justice and Home Affairs Council conclusion of 9 June 2011. Since then, the European Commission it did not appear again that the two countries were ready to join the Schengen area. In 2022, at the initiative of Bulgaria and Romania, a new EU mission will be held in the place, which responds that the two countries continue to meet the strict Schengen standards and have exemplary achievements in their implementation, indicating in the press release of the Greek Ministry of migration and asylum.
The message recalls that while Croatia’s application for Schengen membership was accepted by the Council of Justice and Home Affairs last year in December, Romania and Bulgaria faced opposition from two countries – Austria and the Netherlands.
“The great majority of countries expressed support for both sides, stressing that integration will strengthen confidence in the EU and its security,” the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum recalled.