Bulgaria, Romania Said to Benefit from Coupling for Schengen

Romania and Bulgaria form together the eastern border of the EU and have a common border, so it makes much more sense to see all the long strip secured for Schengen, according to Marin Lessenski. File photo

A joint Schengen accession process for Bulgaria and Romania have more merits than downsides, according to a political analyst from the Open Society Institute in Sofia.

"The situation is very similar to the very EU membership accession prior 2007, when we were also debating whether it is better to advance in tandem or separately," Marin Lessenski, political analyst from the European Policies Initiative and expert at the European Policies and Civic Participation Program at the Open Society Institute, Sofia, said in an interview for Novinite.com.

According to him the two countries can hypothetically accede to Schengen separately but this is not politically feasible and advisable.

"The attempt of one country to separate from the other, because it is considered somewhat better prepared, will be perceived negatively by the other EU members and will have long-term negative effects on bilateral relations for just minor, short-term gains," he said.

Lessenski pointed out that Romania and Bulgaria form together the eastern border of the EU and have a common border, so it makes much more sense to see all the long strip secured simultaneously than in portions over time – that is from the Romanian-Ukrainian border in the north, through the Black Sea to the Bulgarian-Turkish border to the south.

FULL text of the interview READ HERE

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!