INTERVIEW/Greek Migration Minister Mitarachi: Absence of Romania and Bulgaria is a handicap for Schengen Area itself 'The absence of Romania and Bulgaria is a handicap for the Schengen Area itself', Greek Minister for Migration and Asylum Notis Mitarachi declared on Wednesday in Bucharest, in an exclusive interview with AGERPRES. As Greece launched last week a diplomatic initiative to support the two states' Shengen bid, Notis Mitarachi told Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Interior Minister Gerhard Karmer in Vienna that 'protecting the EU's external borders in Bulgaria and Romania can only be positive for the European Union'. The Greek official argued the launch of this initiative firstly by the fact that Romania and Bulgaria deserve to be admitted to the Schengen Area, as 'they have met all conditions, having fully complied with the Schengen acquis'. Secondly, he pointed out that in the fight against illegal migration it is important that 'we have more, not less Europe', and thirdly he showed that this is also important for Greece, 'for the tourist industry, for bilateral economic cooperation'. The Greek minister said that 'for now, it is very difficult to advance a time frame', but voiced hope that the crisis will be solved in 2023 and that an announcement regarding the steps taken so far can be made at the informal Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in Stockholm at the end of this month.
Sursa: AGERPRES
