Germany says Bulgaria and Romania are not ready to join Schengen

Germany’s federal Ministry of Interior has no intention whatsoever to reverse its negative opinion on the readiness of Bulgaria and Romania to enter the Schengen free movement area.

“At present, Sofia and Bucharest are still not ready to join the Schengen Agreement,” stated German Internal Affairs Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich.

“We are not enthusiastic and taking into account the rather negative reports on the two countries, we still doubt the purposefulness of such a step,” clarified German Ministry of Interior representative Jens Teschke.

According to Teschke, Minister Friedrich intends to further discuss the matter with his counterparts from France and the Netherlands, two EU members who have also been especially vocal against Bulgaria and Romania’s joining.