Ready for Schengen

Bulgaria takes “a real step” towards joining Schengen, reports the daily Monitorwhich, along with all of the Bulgarian press, enthusiastically welcomes the conclusions of the European Council working group on the extension of the border-free area to include Bulgaria and Romania. “Bulgaria is ready for Schengen,” adds Trud, which quotes Bulgaria’s European Union ambassador, Boyko Kotsev, who argues that his country has “a perfect mastery of the technology” required to take charge of the EU’s external borders — a view which he also believes is shared by the members of the EU working group. The daily points out that Bulgaria’s bid to join Schengen will still have to overcome “a political obstacle” in the shape of French, German, Dutch, Finnish and Belgian oppostion to the country’s accession, which will have to be approved by a unanimous decision. Diplomats in Brussels questioned by Trud believe a decision on the issue will be taken sometime “between now and June.”