Bulgaria has done a wonderful job in meeting Schengen criteria and must join the free movement area as soon as possible, stated Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Juncker, who is on a visit to Bulgaria Wednesday.

In Varna, Juncker met his Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borisov to discuss Bulgaria’s perspectives as an EU member, as well as bilateral relations.

“Bulgaria has made tremendous efforts so that Schengen external borders are well defended and it is high time that other members reward those efforts,” stated the Luxembourgeois PM Wednesday.

Jean-Claude Juncker, who is in addition president of the Eurozone, also highly commended the Bulgarian government for its policies in the field of finance.

“Public finances in Bulgaria are managed in a way that has rendered the country far better off than some Eurozone members,” commented Juncker.

Bulgaria and neighbor Romania’s hopes of joining Schengen as scheduled in the spring of this year were dashed by members such as Germany, France and the Netherlands.

They voiced worries related to levels of corruption and organized crime in the two countries, which in essence are informal and have nothing to do with the strict criteria for Schengen accession, but have nevertheless proved a decisive obstacle.

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I cannot see the eurozone risking a second recession, stated Luxembourg PM and Eurozone President Jean-Claude Juncker on an official visit to Bulgaria Wednesday.

“The truth is that growth in the eurozone has slowed down, but that is due to external factors and does not warrant a new recession,” said the Eurozone president.

He nevertheless added that strong and continual efforts must be made to overcome the economically unfavorable situation, especially in the field of public finance.

At the same time, Juncker commended the Bulgarian government headed by Borisov for its efforts in finance, saying that a lot of eurozone countries fare worse than Bulgaria.

“I am confident that Bulgaria’s next generation will feel the effects and reap the fruits of these efforts,” said the Luxembourgeois PM.

He also commended Borisov’s center-right GERB government for its successes in developing Bulgaria’s infrastructure.

Juncker spoke highly of Bulgaria’s level of satisfaction of criteria for joining Schengen and stated the country must accede to the free movement treaty “as soon as possible.”

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