Bulgaria is Ready for Schengen Border Controls, Despite Austrian Veto: Official

Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov, a high-ranking official in charge of Bulgaria’s border police, says the country is ready to integrate into the Schengen free travel area, meeting all of the necessary criteria, including the impending need for biometric border controls. Speaking to the domestic outlet BNT, Ziatanov framed the planned biometric Entry/Exit System as a means of enhancing border security, and said that Bulgaria’s Border Police force is “equipped with the appropriate means of video surveillance and sensor lines.”

Bulgaria has been eager to join the Schengen Area, which allows passport-free travel between member countries. However, its entry has been blocked by a veto from Austria, which worries that Bulgaria’s borders with non-EU nations aren’t secure enough. Austrian officials have pointed to high numbers of asylum applications as evidence of weaknesses in Bulgaria’s border control. This, in Austria’s view, would make the entire Schengen zone less secure if Bulgaria is added.

Bulgarian officials, on the other hand, insist that the country meets all the requirements for Schengen membership, and see Austria’s veto as unfair. There have been signs of progress though. Austria has proposed allowing Romanians and Bulgarians to travel freely by air within the EU, and Bulgaria seems open to the idea.

For his part, Zlatanov suggested that government officials are anticipated work with vendors to further implement the technologies needed for the impending Entry/Exit System.

“Offers are expected from the companies that will participate,” he said. “Our borders are no different from those in Europe and around the world.”

The long-anticipated biometric Entry/Exit System has seen multiple delays in recent years as various European states have raced to get the needed infrastructure in place. Implementation of the system is now expected to begin in the autumn of this year. French and English officials recently voiced their concerns about a lack of readiness for the new screening requirements, fearing that travel across the English Channel will be impeded.

Source: Sofia News Agency

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June 4, 2024 – by Cass Kennedy