We have not given up on Schengen, the Netherlands' arguments are unconvincing.

This was stated by acting Prime Minister Galab Donev at a briefing in the Council of Ministers

Galab Donev was born in 1967 in Sofia.

He graduated from the 35th Russian Language High School in Sofia. He held a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs Ivan Demerdzhiev, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikolay Milkov and Minister of Justice Krum Zarkov. Their goal was to review the actions of the caretaker government to maintain the country's readiness us to join the Schengen area.

He emphasized that the criteria for joining Schengen were covered by Bulgaria already in 2011.

"This is well known to all participants in the Schengen area, including the governments of the Netherlands and Austria. Nevertheless, in response to questions raised by some of our partners in recent months, two inspections organized by the European Commission at the initiative of Bulgaria and Romania with the participation of interested EU Member States. The inspections were focused precisely on Bulgaria's implementation of the technical criteria. The areas subject to the inspections included the issuance of visas, judicial cooperation in the field of migration and the protection of personal data, the most sensitive and important technical areas that were determined by the European Commission (EC).

Both inspections ended with positive reports for Bulgaria.

In recent days, the Embassy of Austria in Sofia also carried out an inspection.

The result is also positive.

The results of these inspections once again conclusively proved that Bulgaria meets all the criteria for Schengen membership.

Despite the invitation, the Netherlands chose not to take part in these inspections.

The reservations subsequently expressed by the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, which are based on the lack of confidence in Bulgaria's fulfillment of the membership criteria, not only sound more than unconvincing, but are also refuted by the conclusions of the European Commission.

They contradict the positions of all member states and the unequivocal opinion of the European Parliament.

Although the rule of law is not formally part of the Schengen criteria, in relation to the concern,

expressed by some member states regarding the guarantee of the rule of law in Bulgaria, it should be recalled that in 2019 the EC issued a clear opinion that Bulgaria has covered the six main criteria under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism and is not requires the preparation of new reports, as the conditions for dropping this monitoring have been met.

Regardless, at the initiative of Bulgaria, the EC made an additional assessment, according to the criteria of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism.

As a result, the EC confirmed its positive opinion", stated Galab Donev

that Bulgaria has covered the six main criteria under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism and there is no need to prepare new reports, since the conditions for dropping this monitoring have been met.

Regardless, at the initiative of Bulgaria, the EC made an additional assessment, according to the criteria of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism.

As a result, the EC confirmed its positive opinion", stated Galab Donev

that Bulgaria has covered the six main criteria under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism and there is no need to prepare new reports, since the conditions for dropping this monitoring have been met.

Regardless, at the initiative of Bulgaria, the EC made an additional assessment, according to the criteria of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism.

As a result, the EC confirmed its positive opinion", stated Galab Donev

Galab Donev was born in 1967 in Sofia.

Graduated from the 35th Russian Language High School in Sofia.

Rumen Radev on Schengen: Instead of European solidarity, Bulgaria gets cynicism!

"In recent weeks, the president and the government have carried out very active foreign policy activities both within the European institutions and through direct contacts in order to familiarize the partners. Letters have been sent by the president to all European leaders with a clear explanation and positions on the case with the support received, the subjective facts and in support of their informed decision on the accession of Bulgaria to the Schengen area", commented the acting Prime Minister. 

Dove Donev