Romania Could Outpace Bulgaria in Schengen Accession - Deputy PM

Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva has warned the country should prepare for tough conclusions in the EU Commission's forthcoming report on justice and internal affairs.

The document prepared on a yearly basis under the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification (established for Bulgaria and Romania due to their entry into the EU in 2007) will not be favorable for Bulgaria especially if compared to that for Romania, Kuneva told reporters at a news conference on Monday.

"There will be a clearly underscored difference between the two countries... Bulgaria will not be able to mark substantial progress compared to the previous report and this is bad."

Kuneva stressed that Romania had been recommended for a Schengen entrance in two EU reports in a row.

"Our neighbors have the right to insist on [their entrance], and if the mechanism is working there, then we have no ground to say it is not working and has been ill-designed. The reasons [for Bulgaria's negative reports] should be sought here - in the delay of [political] measures, lack of political and societal will," Darik Radio quoted her as saying.

Kuneva, who also oversees the work at the ministries of justice and interior, reiterated that Bulgaria could get a better evaluation in the next CVM report if the country managed to elect a Chair of the Supreme Court of Cassation (VKS) and a Chief Inspector at the Inspectorate of Bulgaria's Supreme Judicial Council (VSS).

This time she added "a judicial reform" was also of key importance.

In her words, both the Interior Minister and the Justice Minister were "energetic" and determined to reinstate Bulgaria's Schengen accession as a priority.

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