Bulgaria's full membership in Schengen is a historic event. The fruit and crown of the efforts of many people for many years. I am convinced that together we will all protect the external borders of the European Union much better. This was stated by Acting Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev from the "Kulata" border checkpoint, after Bulgaria became a full member of Schengen.
„From Greece all the way to Finland is the northernmost point of the continent, while Portugal is the westernmost and borderless travel is possible. From the first or second day, the differences will be clear and Bulgarian citizens will feel the comfort of our full membership in Schengen,“ added Glavchev.
We recall that as of today, Bulgaria is already a full member of the Schengen area. On 12 December last year, the Council of the European Union (EU) decided to abolish checks at the land Schengen borders of Bulgaria and Romania. Bulgaria and Romania have been expecting to join Schengen since 2010, when the Council of the EU considered that the legal requirements had been met. In the following years, despite this assessment and repeated calls by the European Commission (EC) and the European Parliament (EP), the necessary unanimity was not achieved in the Council of the EU.
Bulgaria's acting Minister of the Interior Atanas Ilkov and his Romanian counterpart Catalin Predoiu symbolically raised the barrier at the border checkpoint (BCCP) "Danube Bridge" near Ruse-Giurgev at midnight.