Bulgaria and Romania Have Long Been Prepared for Schengen, the Decision Should Not Be Political, MEP Andrey Novakov Tells BTA
Strasbourg, (BTA) – Bulgaria and Romania have long been prepared for Schengen, and the decision should not be political, MEP Andrey Novakov (GERB/EPP) told BTA in Strasbourg on Tuesday hours before a European Parliament (EP) debate on the matter. “On several occasions, we came very close to entering Schengen, but we were stopped by purely political decisions in the Netherlands,” Novakov said.
Internal air and sea border controls within the Schengen free-travel zone were lifted in Bulgaria and Romania in March. The two countries now expect to join the zone by land as well.
Novakov said the EP discussion later on Tuesday may sound like just another debate, but in reality, there are many micro-achievements behind every message sent out by the EP, as a result of which Bulgaria is poised to fulfill a national ideal whose realization has cost 15 years of effort.
Although there were critical voices among the Greens, the far left, and partly, the far right, in this case Novakov hopes it will be different, because the latest European elections showed very clearly where the people want Europe to go – which is not the direction suggested by the Greens. The truth is on Bulgaria’s side, he said, adding that both Bulgaria and Romania have long been prepared for full Schengen membership. If you protect the borders well, you deserve a right which has been promised to you as a member of the European Union, Novakov argued.
BTA drew Novakov’s attention to the fact that some people are still skeptical, for instance, the representatives of the Freedom Party of Austria, and it is said that the Netherlands may also take an “against” stance. The MEP said he is most worried about the outcome of the presidential elections in Romania. He hopes, though, that there is not enough time for an unwelcome election outcome in Romania to undermine by December 12 the prospects of full Schengen membership. Novakov does not expect the Netherlands to take a step back, because he says it would put the country in a very solitary position.
The politician denied allegations made last week that Romania has been pulling Bulgaria along the track to Schengen. Given that Bulgaria is in the fourth year of a serious political crisis, there have been moments when Romania looked better and more predictable, but coming to the doorstep of full Schengen membership is the result of efforts which have lasted much longer, he said.
Novakov was also asked to comment on information from diplomatic sources in Brussels quoted in Bulgarian media, who said that it is up to Bulgaria to decide where and how it exercises control over its border with Romania after joining Schengen by land. Citing practices he has witnessed in some Schengen countries, Novakov said that what the sources referred to was, first, a temporary measure against illegal migration, and second, it does not stop cross-border traffic. No one stops you on a general rule to see your IDs, he said. For example, a couple of police cars may be put on duty on both sides of the Bulgarian-Greek border at Kulata/Promachonas to watch specifically for cars not registered in either country. It will be a song compared with what we have now. At present, a truck has to wait for two days at the Bulgarian-Romanian border at Vidin or at Ruse to get through. This will hopefully be relegated to history, Novakov said.
Asked whether the champagne bottle will be opened on January 1, 2025, Novakov said he will be able to answer the question on the evening of December 12. Until then, he plans to visit the border a couple of times with colleagues from Romania. Anyway, this is the final stretch, he noted.