Law enforcement in Europe

Turkey has taken a critical step to revitalize the process of visa exemption for Turkish citizens in the Schengen area, which is among the most important bilateral topics with the European Union.

A recent rift between Athens and Berlin over increased security checks on travelers arriving in Germany from Greece appears to be on the mend following a meeting between representatives from the two countries and an official at the European Commission in Brussels on Thursday.

Athens has lodged a demarche with Berlin over increased checks on Greek travelers at German airports that contravene procedures stipulated in the Schengen Agreement. 

A large-scale operation is under way on the territory of Bulgaria, Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, to neutralize an organized criminal group operating on the territory of the five countries and illegally transfer foreign nationals from the countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan to European Union countries, reported Bulgarian Prosecutor's Office .

''The clear definition and consolidation of the principle of solidarity within the European Union and the improvement of the common European asylum policy will be key issues during the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

A common electronic system to speed up checks at the Schengen area's external borders and to register all non-EU travellers was backed by Parliament on Wednesday.

The announced new system of entry into the Schengen area "does not mean a return of visas."

This is according to the EU commissioner for migration and internal affairs, who delivered "a message to citizens" in the Western Balkans.

The announced new system of entry into the Schengen area "does not mean a return of visas."

This is according to the EU commissioner for migration and internal affairs, who delivered "a message to citizens" in the Western Balkans.

''We have fulfilled all the criteria for entry into Schengen. I hope next year to get access at least by air and sea. " That was what Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva told Nova TV, quoted by BGNES.

Citizens of the Western Balkan countries will in the future have to request authorization from the relevant EU bodies of to travel in the Schengen zone.

They will still not be required to have a visa, Beta has reported.