Schengen Area

Bulgaria relies on Sweden's support for its effort to join the EU's Schengen borderless area, Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva said on Wednesday.

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev began a two-day visit to Zagreb and Croatia on Tuesday, meeting President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic and Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic to discuss issues of mutual economic interest and boost ties.

Plevneliev was the first head of state to visit the Croatian capital since Grabar Kitarovic took office in February.

Meglena Kuneva, Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister in charge of coordinating EU policies and institutional affairs, will pay a working visit to Sweden.

President Klaus Iohannis believes there are chances, but not certainties on Romania's being accepted in the Schengen area this year, but underscores that "the latest developments in Parliament, in which certain requests have been rejected, don't (...) help at all."

Photo credit: (c) ALEX MICSIK / AGERPRES STREAM

On the first day of the visit to the US, Rumyana Bachvarova, Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, and senior representatives of US law enforcement authorities signed an agreement in the sphere of border security.

"The current visa regime toward Kosovo is cynical injustice, which should come to and sooner than later, because it does not only offend the dignity of Kosovo's people but also the dignity of Europe," Rama said on Monday.

"Keeping Kosovo under the current visa regime is a shame for Europe," he added.

Justice Minister Robert Cazanciuc at the Interior Ministry (MAI) 2014 activity report presentation on Monday underscored the importance of training youth on observing the law.

Photo credit: (c) Ilie BUMBAC / AGERPRES PHOTO

Leader of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group in the European Parliament, Giovanni Pittella, on Saturday said at the National Council of the PSD [Social Democratic Party] works, held at the Parliament Palace in Bucharest, that Romania and Bulgaria are 'rightful partners of the EU', which is why they should enter the Schengen zone.

Photo (c) Liviu SOVA /AGERPRES PHOTO

Iceland withdraws EU membership candidature

REYKJAVIK -- Iceland's authorities announced late on Thursday that the country's bid to join the EU as a member had been withdrawn.

The decision was made two years after a eurosceptic coalition came to power, promising it would end Iceland's European integrations process.

Latvia's Ambassador to Romania Ilgvars Klava on Tuesday said that his country endorses Romania's accession to the Schengen Area and supports the Schengen enlargement if the evaluation process is completed, adding that "all member states should be equally, fairly treated, without the adding of supplementary criteria."

Photo credit: (c) Simion MECHNO / AGERPRES ARCHIVE