''To safeguard what has been achieved in the last 40 years for another 40 and beyond, Schengen will need constant renewal, and Bulgaria has a big role to play for this to happen'', European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner told BTA.

''To safeguard Schengen, we must first strengthen our external borders by deploying modern IT systems, reinforcing key border areas, and boosting Frontex’s resources – with Bulgaria playing a vital role in protecting the EU’s external frontier. Schengen is one of the greatest achievements of our Union. It touches the lives of over 450 million Europeans – it boosts tourism, makes goods cheaper and provides opportunities for work and study”, added Commissioner Magnus Brunner.

Commissioner Brunner will have a series of meetings in Sofia and, together with Bulgaria’s Minister of Interior Daniel Mitov and Greece’s Deputy Minister for Migration and Asylum Sevi Vouloudaki, will visit the Kulata–Promachonas border crossing. At the beginning of the tourist season, the three will cross into Greece together, marking the free movement without border checks within Schengen. 

Edited by Ivo Ivanov

Published and translated by Kostadin Atanasov