EP President: Bulgaria has fulfilled all conditions to become a full member of Schengen

Bulgaria has fulfilled all the conditions to become a full member of Schengen and it is unacceptable for the country to face additional political obstacles, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said during a meeting with Bulgaria's Pareliment Speaker, Vezhdi Rashidov, on November 21.

Rashidov is in Strasbourg, where he will take part in the ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the European Parliament. He has expressed hope that Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia will not be divided on their way to Schengen and will become full members before the end of this year.

"We have seen a satisfaction that we are raising the issue of Schengen and, of course, a readiness to have support for this. Mrs Metsola herself said a very interesting sentence that there is no other reason to ask Bulgaria for other political conditions because it walked its path and it is ready to join Schengen, which of course I think is useful for Bulgaria and for Europe. The second thing that we said to each other is that it is good, that the way we started together with Romania and Croatia towards joining the EU and the European Parliament, it is good not to be divided and to continue together again on this path that we have walked for years. That would be a good sign for us and for the Balkans, and it would be tolerant and fair to our partners and friends in those countries. We deeply hope that we will have a government, that is what we discussed with her, so that there is no hesitation in other countries' support for Bulgaria's application to join Schengen," said Parliament Speaker Vezhdi Rashidov.

EC urges that Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia be immediately admitted to Schengen