I am not giving up on my goal of Bulgaria and Romania becoming part of Schengen this year, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said before today's meeting of the Council of the EU, BNR correspondent in Brussels Angelina Piskova has reported. It is not expected that a vote on a decision on the accession of the two countries would take place, but just debates on their readiness. The European Commissioner recalled the recent successful fact-finding mission in Bulgaria and assured that she would tell the council about the preparedness of Bulgaria and Romania.

We will continue to comment and collect all assessments; we will ascertain the progress of both countries and the need to generate a stronger Europe. There is no doubt that this would happen when we manage to complete the integration of Romania and Bulgaria in the Schengen area, Spanish Minister for Home Affairs, Fernando Grande-Marlaska said.