12.09.2012

Bulgaria has fulfilled all the criteria for joining the Schengen area. This says the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Simeon Djankov for the Dutch De Telegraaf newspaper. He adds that "Bulgaria and Romania are a victim of the political games in the Netherlands. Populism and nationalism prevail and this deprives us of our fair chance.". According to Djankov, "we have done a lot to optimize the border control system, to fight corruption and to reform the judiciary. This is evident from a number of evaluation reports. The rest of the member states acknowledge this, while you do not. It is just not fair". The Finance Minister finds as ungrounded the concerns of Dutch politicians that the country will be flooded with emigrants after Bulgaria and Romania join Schengen.