Hungarian interior minister: Romania is better prepared than Bulgaria for Schengen entry

Romania is better prepared and in superior position than Bulgaria in terms of Schengen area accession, Hungarian interior minister Sandor Pinter said.

Following a meeting of experts held in Brussels on January 14 on the state of preparedness of Romania and Bulgaria, it was said that Pinter said that “Bulgaria appears to be less prepared than Romania”, adding that the next meeting would be staged on January 28.

Pinter, whose country Hungary is the current holder of the EU Presidency, said that Bulgaria and Romania must meet a number of requirements before being eligible to join Schengen. Pinter said that this could not happen until October 2011, although even then it is by no means certain.