A step forward: On 10 October, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs is expected to propose Bulgaria to join Schengen by land

On October 10, the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs is expected to propose Bulgaria to join Schengen by land. This was announced by the head of the European Commission representation in Bulgaria on September 24. Bulgaria and Romania hope the abolition of border controls to Schengen to come into force by the end of the year. In the meantime, business continues to make losses because of the lack of free borders, said the Bulgarian Industrial Association, which organised today's round table on Schengen.

Schengen air and sea border controls were lifted for Bulgaria and Romania on March 31. Land border controls remain in place for the two Balkan neighbours.

By the end of the year, Bulgaria and Romania expect to receive a date to join Schengen as full members. A new political call will be made in two weeks' time.

"On October 10, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, together with Hungary's Minister of the Interior, are to propose to the Council of the European Union to abolish checks at land borders," the Head of the European Commission Representation to Bulgaria, Yordanka Chobanova, said.

Apart from people travelling across land borders, mostly affected by border controls are the businesses.

Dobri Mitrev, President of the BIA: "If I can send one message today – the time has come for the Schengen issue to be closed for Bulgaria and Romania and the two countries should be given a date for full Schengen membership.”

A study by the Bulgarian Academy of Science commissioned by the Ministry of Economy and Industry shows that the total losses due to the absence of full Schengen membership are BGN 1.3 billion per year. Of this, the lost benefits from vehicles waiting at the borders is over half a billion BGN.

Dobri Mitrev, President of BIA: "The borders are for everyone, they are not only for Bulgarian and Romanian companies, they hinder the lives of all European citizens and all European companies."

In addition to reducing traffic and improving transport connectivity, Schengen mebership by land will boost economic relations and investor interest in the region.

Miklós Boros, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Hungary: "I would like to reiterate that Hungary supports the full Schengen membership of Bulgaria and Romania and we are doing our best to deliver results in this direction during the six months of our presidency.

According to the chairman of the Parliament's foreign affairs committee, Boyko Borissov, one of the main reasons for the delay is the political instability of recent years.

Transport, tourism and industry are among the sectors most seriously affected by border controls at our land borders.