Romanian and Bulgarian economy ministers believe joint Schengen accession effort will yield results

  The Romanian Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Stefan Oprea, and the Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Industry, Bogdan Bogdanov, attending the Bulgarian-Romanian Business Forum "United Europe - One Path to Economic Security and Sustainable Integration" in Ruse on Thursday, expressed their confidence that their joint approach for the accession of both countries to the Schengen Area will yield results by the end of this year."The economies of both countries are advancing, Bulgaria was the second most prosperous country in Europe, with an economic growth of up to 30 percent, and the situation has continued this year. Even if some of our partners are in recession, Bulgaria and Romania are countries with GDP growth. Our economies are growing steadily, our industries are more productive. We are at a stage of progress that no longer makes us feel we are countries with cheap labour, we are a breeding ground for prosperity, we are the countries where innovation is taking place, which is the basis of Europe's new industrial revolution. We are an active part of Europe's development and the sooner we complete the process of full integration, the easier it will be for Europe to improve its level of competitiveness," said Bulgarian Minister of Economy Bogdan Bogdanov.Minister Stefan Oprea said that not only Romanian and Bulgarian citizens, but all European citizens are economically affected by the fact that Romania and Bulgaria are not members of the Schengen Area."The feeling of frustration that exists in Romania and Bulgaria leaves its mark even in the turnover and profits that Austrian companies have today in the two member states. I think it is a big mistake to export a state's domestic problem to the European level. I think we have seen this mistake in Europe, we have seen its consequences, even leading to an exit. This is the message I want to convey together with the Bulgarian Minister of Economy, that not only Bulgarian and Romanian companies are affected, but all European citizens who also pay the price of every product they buy, because Romania and Bulgaria are not yet in the Schengen Area. I hope that our approach will have results as soon as possible, maybe even at the JHA Council in December," said Stefan Oprea.The Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to Romania, Radko Vlaykov, the Ambassador of Romania to Bulgaria, Brandusa Ioana Predescu, and the Ambassador of Austria to Bulgaria, Andrea Wicke Bohm, were also present."We are convinced that Romania and Bulgaria, together, are stronger. Thanks to the agreement signed when we joined the EU we have the obligation to join the Schengen Area. At the moment we are limited, a right is limited and the only reason why this right is limited is reflected by internal political problems in one of the states that is the main investor in Romania and Bulgaria. The Romanian and Bulgarian business community should unite, it is an opportunity to make our common voice heard. Our common approach must be based on European solidarity and oppose the negative attitude we see towards us. As long as Romania and Bulgaria are members contributing to the welfare of the EU, they should not be rejected from the Schengen area. We have the support of all Member States, except one and I hope that this issue will be resolved soon," said Ambassador Radko Vlaykov.All those in attendance said that it is a priority to develop the connectivity of the two countries."The cost of not fully integrating two members of the EU is also reflected into the pockets and bills that European citizens in the rest of the Member States pay as they receive goods from all over the world on the vital artery of transport routes for goods from all over the world to the west of the EU. This is something we all need to see, not just us here at the Danube in our microclimate. Let's look at the benefits that the disappearance of borders has brought with everything they mean in terms of tariffs, rates, waiting times between countries like Germany and Poland, between Austria and Slovakia, trade between them has increased because tariffs have disappeared. And this is natural to happen here too, between Romania and Bulgaria. But it's not just Romania and Bulgaria, it's Hungary and Romania, Greece and Bulgaria, I would say that the heart of Europe beats here too,, underlined Romania's Ambassador to Bulgaria, Brandusa Ioana Predescu.The Austrian Ambassador to Bulgaria, Andrea Wicke Bohm, said that the Danube creates connections with both Bulgaria and Romania, Austrian investors have long-standing cooperation in this part of Europe and Austria's position is not against Romania and Bulgaria, but is concerned about security, because "stability and security in this region is a priority".