Dutch Min Opposing Bulgaria Schengen Entry Tried to Benefit from Shady Situation

Current Dutch Minister of Immigration and ex-mayor of Maastricht Gerd Leers. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Bulgarian press has recalled Saturday the case in which current Dutch Minister of Immigration Gerd Leers tried to trade influence for private gains in Bulgaria back in 2008.

Thursday it was Minister Leers who announced that for the time being the Netherlands will block the entry of Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen, in spite of the fact they have fulfilled all technical requirements, due to concerns with corruption and organized crime.

The Netherlands' position was joined by other countries, such as France, Germany and the Scandinavian member-states, as a result of which Bulgaria and Romania did not receive the expected political decision to join, delaying entry indefinitely.

Saturday Bulgarian wide-circulation daily 24 Chasa recalls the events of 2008-9, a time when Gerd Leers served as the mayor of Maastricht.

Coming into contact with the mayor of Bulgarian Black Sea town of Byala, Leers negotiated to buy 2 yet to be built seaside villas for preferential prices against using his influence to secure European funds for the town.

The deal was reportedly concluded with the help of high-ranking Bulgarian officials.

In the end the Bulgarian contractors demanded a higher price from Leers, and it turned out that the estate was mortgaged, so after the project failed the future Dutch minister lost some EUR 230,000.

Although initially Leers claimed that he participated in the transaction purely as a private individual, information surfaced in the Dutch press that he had committed to trade his influence.

Early 2009 Leers submitted his resignation as the mayor of Maastricht.