Expats

Bulgaria Might Join Schengen by Sea, Air in 2012 [Dec 11, 2011] Bulgaria and Romania are to join the Schengen zone with their maritime and aerial borders on March 25, 2012, the Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA) is proposing. The proposal has been listed in the draft decision of the EU Council of Ministers, the correspondent of the Bulgarian National Television, BNT, reported from Brussels Sunday. In addition, the proposal includes text that the land ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Netherlands Unwavering in Not Letting Bulgaria in Schengen [Nov 15, 2011] The Netherlands is not going to change its position on Bulgaria's and Romania's joining of the Schengen zone, according to a Dutch Interior Ministry spokesperson, speaking for the Bulgarian National Radio. The statement comes on the heels of reports that Finland has softened its position on Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen accession. The Nordic country is now in favor of the EU opening its air ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Dutch Ambassador Dims Further Bulgaria's Schengen Hopes [Sep 19, 2011] Karel van Kesteren, Dutch Ambassador to Bulgaria, confirmed Monday his country's position and intentions to block Bulgaria's joining of the Schengen zone. After a meeting with the candidates for president and vice president from the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB, party, Rosen Plevneliev, and Margarita Popova, the diplomat reiterated the Netherlands government would ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria optimistic on two-stage Schengen entry [Sep 08, 2011] (SOFIA ) - Bulgaria remains hopeful that it will be allowed a two-stage entry into Europe's visa-free Schengen zone this year, Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov said Thursday. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Attempts to Sway EU about Schengen Readiness [Sep 07, 2011] Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, is participating Wednesday in a conference in Brussels dedicated to the enlargement of the Schengen Zone. The information was provided by the Interior Ministry's press center. The conference is titled EU Migration Policy in the Light of the Schengen Enlargement while Tsvetanov's report to be presented there ? Bulgaria on ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria MEP: Exact Date for Schengen Entry No Drama [Jun 12, 2011] A Bulgarian member of the European Parliament has warned against escalating tensions over the exact date of the country's accession to the visa-free Schengen zone, which has been delayed until mid-2012 at the earliest. "Let's turn the logic upside down, let's try not to exert any pressure or blame anyone because our accession to the Schengen zone will not happen now, but just do our job properly ... [via YahooNews] More >>

PM: Bulgaria's Schengen Entry to Ease EU Refugee Pressure [Apr 18, 2011] Bulgaria's prime minister, who is struggling to ensure swift entry into the EU border-free Schengen area, has said the country's accession will benefit the whole European block. "The Bulgarian government is seeking entry into the Schengen zone not only because of the welfare of the Bulgarian citizens, but also in a bid to help the European Union cope with the mighty wave of refugees," Boyko ... [via YahooNews] More >>

France will help Bulgaria and Romania join the Schengen zone, French interior minister says [Apr 18, 2011] SOFIA, Bulgaria - French Interior Minister Claude Gueant says his country's will assist Bulgaria and Romania in getting ready to join the visa-free Schengen zone. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria, Romania Schengen Entry Tied with Next EC Report [Feb 20, 2011] Bulgaria and Romania's prospects of joining the Schengen border-less zone will be highly improved if the next European Commission report on judicial reform and corruption fight, due in July, is more positive, according to insiders. Bulgaria and Romania, which have been coupled ever since their joint accession to the European Union in 2007, aim to enter the Schengen zone in March this year ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria, Romania Declare Joint Will for Schengen Entry [Feb 16, 2011] The Foreign Policy Parliamentary Committees of Bulgaria and Romania are holding a joint meeting Wednesday to adopt a declaration for the readiness and the political will of the two countries to join the Schengen zone. The meeting takes place in the Danube city of Ruse. The document will focus on the desire of Bulgaria and Romania to enter the zone together, and not be separated. ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria, Romania Await Finland Nay-Sayer to Schengen Hopes [Feb 03, 2011] Finland's minister of immigration and European affairs, who opposed last month Bulgaria and Romania's accession to the Schengen zone, will pay a visit to the two countries next week. Astrid Thors will visit Bucharest on 6-7 February and Sofia on 7-8 February, the Finnish government announced. In Bucharest, Minister Thors will meet the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Teodor Baconschi, and ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria, Roman denied Schengen entry [Jan 29, 2011] As Romania stands ready to join the Schengen Zone, the European Union (EU) says Bulgaria and Romania cannot join the visa-free travel zone separately. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria says its ready for Schengen entry in March [Jan 11, 2011] Sofia- Bulgaria said Tuesday it is continuing with preparations to join the European Union's passport-free Schengen zone, despite reservations from some countries. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Boasts Readiness for Schengen Entry in March [Jan 11, 2011] Bulgaria said on Tuesday it is continuing with preparations to join the European Union's passport-free Schengen zone and will be ready to accede in March, despite the strong opposition from a coalition of older EU member states. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria's Schengen Entry Postponed over Turkey Border Control - Report [Jan 09, 2011] Bulgaria will not join the Schengen zone at the end of March as previously announced because the report assessing control over joint border with Turkey is negative. [via YahooNews] More >>

PM: Bulgaria's External Borders Are Safer than Greece's [Jan 08, 2011] Bulgaria's PM Boyko Borisov. Photo by BGNES Bulgaria's external borders are much safer than the Greek ones, stated PM Boyko Borisov regarding his country's preparedness to enter the Schengen Zone. [via YahooNews] More >>

EU Presidency: Bulgaria's Schengen Entry Postponed for October [Jan 06, 2011] Bulgaria and Romania will not join the Schengen zone in March, as previously announced, but no earlier than October, 2011. The statement was made Thursday by the Hungarian Interior Minister, Shandor Pinter. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria's Schengen Entry to be Delayed by Six Months - German Expert [Dec 24, 2010] Bulgaria's accession to the European visa-free Schengen zone, scheduled for March 2011, will be delayed by six months because the coalition of France and the Netherlands, which oppose early entry, is too powerful, according to a German expert. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria, Romania face Schengen delay - Summary [Dec 22, 2010] Sofia/Bucharest- Bulgaria will continue reforms it needs to join European Union's Schengen zone, regardless of moves by big Western nations to block it, a top official said Wednesday. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Defies France, Germany, Sticks to March 2011 Schengen Bid [Dec 22, 2010] EU newcomer Bulgaria has made it clear it will aim to accede to the Schengen zone in March 2011 even though France and Germany decided to block the country from joining the Europe's passport-free travel zone. [via YahooNews] More >>