Bulgaria's Kuneva Discussing Schengen, Graft, Investment in Sweden

Bulgaria relies on Sweden's support for its effort to join the EU's Schengen borderless area, Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva said on Wednesday.

Speaking after talks with Sweden's Justice and Migration Minister Morgan Johansson and Foreign Minister Margot Wallström in Stockholm, Kuneva said Sweden has committed to back Bulgaria's Schengen bid before the other Nordic countries ahead of the European Council meeting in June when the issue might be discussed.

Kuneva, deputy premier in charge of coordinating EU policies and institutional affairs, is on a working visit to Sweden.

Potential cooperation in fighting graft was on the agenda of Kuneva's meeting with Morgan Johansson will visit Bulgaria in September, according to a statement from the Bulgarian government press office.

Methods of anonymous reporting of suspected corruption and protection of those reporting alleged wrongdoing were of particular interest in the talks between Johansson and Kuneva.

Attrracting Swedish investment into biomass projects in northwestern Bulgaria and boosting the number of Swedish tourists visiting the southeast European country were discussed at Kuneva's meeting with  Sweden's Minister for Strategic Development and Nordic Cooperation Kristina Persson.