site.btaBulgaria, Romania "More than Ready" for Schengen Entry, Economy Ministers Say

Bulgaria's Economy and Industry Bogdan Bogdanov on Tuesday held an online meeting with Romania's Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism Minister Stefan-Radu Oprea. The two discussed the losses that the two countries' business and investors are sustaining as a result of the non-admission of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area. Bulgarian Deputy Economy and Industry Minister Nikolay Pavlov also attended the meeting, Bogdanov's Ministry said in a press release.

The ministers emphasized that both countries are more than ready to enter the Schengen area and discussed the impact of the delay on business. Bogdanov and Oprea noted that membership of the Schengen area will unblock cross-border traffic and will give an impetus to the two countries' economic development. It will also affect favourably an improvement of transport connectivity and the development of logistics infrastructure.

"Bulgaria is completely ready to join Schengen. The efforts made by our governments for our inclusion in the Schengen area, hopefully before the end of 2023, will be key for the region's further economic development," Bogdanov stressed.

The Minister of Economy and Industry stressed the importance of Schengen for companies operating in all sectors of the Bulgarian economy and for foreign investors in this country. "It will promote economic relations regionwide, and the two countries will attract greater investor interest," Bogdanov emphasized. In his words, regional cooperation in this department is crucial, and Greece shares the economic interest in the Schengen entry of Bulgaria and Romania.

The two concurred on forthcoming joint actions, including a joint business forum for representatives of companies which sustain substantial losses, which would highlight the economic consequences of Bulgaria and Romania remaining outside the internal-controls-free zone.