Bulgaria Must Participate in Schengen Upgrade – Bulgarian Vice President

Margarita Popova (right) and Iva Pushkarova (left) discussed Wednesday Schengen issues with the Chair of the France-Bulgaria Friendship Group at the French Senate. Photo by BGNES

A working meeting between Bulgarian Vice President Margarita Popova and Pozzo di Borgo, Chair of the France-Bulgaria Friendship Group at the French Senate, stressed the need for cooperation among Schengen member states for the transformation of the area.

Popova is on a two-day work visit to Paris to take part in the Academy of European Law (ERA) conference 'Ne bis in idem as a general principle of EU law' in Paris.

Wednesday's meeting was also attended by Bulgarian Ambassador to France Matin Raykov and Iva Puskharova, Chair of the Pardons Committee at the President's Office.

"Schengen rules need updating, which must be discussed by all EU member states. Bulgaria must participate in this process of change," Popova stated, as cited in a statement of the President's Office.

Pozzo di Borgo, in his turn, expressed support for Bulgaria's efforts to eliminate the last remaining obstacles to its accession to Schengen.

He sided with the opinion of the Bulgarian Vice President that all EU countries, including Bulgaria, need to pool efforts to reform Schengen.

On May 3, Margarita Popova will attend the ERA conference and will give a lecture in the panel devoted to the national and transnational application of the "ne bis idem" principle.

Popova's report is titled "Challenges of 'ne bis idem' in an Integrating Europe".

Later the same day, the Vice President and former Justice Minister will meet with Bulgarian students at the Bulgarian Embassy in Paris.

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