President Rumen Radev sent letters to the leaders of the EU member states inviting them to take into consideration the achievements of Bulgaria and Romania on their path to joining the Schengen Area, the head of State's press secretariat reported on Wednesday.
In the letters, following up on his statements on Bulgaria's and Romania's accession to Schengen at the European Council meetings in Prague and Brussels this year, Rumen Radev reiterates Bulgaria's contribution to the protection of the external European borders, and the significant financial, technical and human resources involved.
President Radev points to the repeated recognition by the European Commission and the European Parliament of Bulgaria's readiness to join Schengen. The head of State also draws attention to the resolution adopted on October 18, in which the European Parliament calls on the EU Council to fully implement the provisions of the European accumulated legislation on Schengen regarding Bulgaria and Romania by the end of this year.
"Bulgaria fully adheres to the Schengen acquis in all key areas of external border management," the head of State stresses, adding that the effective border control implemented by Bulgaria was confirmed by the EU experts during their mission in Bulgaria on October 12-13. This mission took place at the initiative of Bulgaria and Romania in response to requests by some member states to review the implementation of the Schengen acquis.
"Bulgaria's will, capacity and dedicated efforts to be part of the Schengen Area are an expression of solidarity with its European partners. It is time to reciprocate this approach by supporting our full membership in the Schengen Area," President Radev wrote. According to him, it is time for pragmatic solutions to prevent new dividing lines in the European Union.
The President also underscores that against the backdrop of the severe crisis in the security and economic environment, when solidarity and dynamic economic exchanges are particularly necessary, keeping Bulgaria and Romania out of Schengen does not contribute to the common efforts to tackle the challenges. The head of State is confident that at the upcoming Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in December, Bulgaria and Romania will receive support from the leaders of the other EU member states.
In his letter to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, with whom President Radev held personal talks at the last two European Council meetings, the Bulgarian head of State proposes to hold expert meetings to discuss the reservations expressed by the Netherlands on Bulgaria's and Romania's accession to Schengen, the release said.
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