Bulgaria will participate in the expert debate on changing the Schengen Borders Code, today’s discussion at the Academy of European Law was told by Vice President Margarita Popova. She took part in the forum in the city of Trier along with representatives of the European Commission, the European border protection service FRONTEX and legal experts from EU member states.

Bulgaria and Romania have for some time kept to the status quo and it is unjust for the two countries to remain outside the Schengen zone. This means that the status quo must be changed, Vice President Popova said. She said that the debate on changes to the Schengen Borders Code should also include the general law on border control, protection of external borders and the role of shared European structures for its implementation such as FRONTEX.
Issues to be taken into account in a Pan-European debate should include the financial resources required, solidarity among EU member states and the European Commission's role in assisting individual countries in the Schengen acquis, Vice President Popova said.