PES Leader Stanishev Offers to Help Bulgaria Join Schengen

European socialists' leader Sergey Stanishev has announced he is ready to work with Bulgarian institutions toward Bulgaria's accession into the Schengen area without border control.

Stanishev, formerly a Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) Chair and Prime Minister between 2005 and 2009, told the Bulgarian National Radio he would throw his whole weight behind that cause if the cabinet chose to accept his offer.

"One cannot set new conditions for [the Schengen accession of] Bulgaria all the time. We need a single position defending our national interest and I am ready to work with the Bulgarian government to make this cause possible. I am also calling on the National Assembly to come up with a declaration on that issue."

Stanishev admitted to the fact that the EU Commission "had its ground" criticizing the judiciary, internal order, fight against corruption and organized crime in the country.

However, he also pointed out the next Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification (CVM) report on Bulgaria should explicitly name problems and what should be expected of Bulgarian institutions.

"PES and our parliamentary group have always maintained that Bulgaria was ready to join Schengen long ago... I will insist on the support of the EU Commission and within the European Council. I already demanded the support of Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans, who is in charge of the CVM," Stanishev added.

Earlier this week Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva warned Sofia should expect a gloomy report from the EU Commission earlier next year.

Kuneva said it is possible for Romania to be decoupled from Bulgaria on its way to Schengen, since it has shown better results in the above-mentioned areas over the past few...