Bulgarian president pleads for his country's adhesion to Schengen Zone

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev addressed the members of European Parliament (MEPs) on Wednesday during their plenary session in Strasbourg with a plea for the adhesion of his country to the Schengen Zone "as soon as possible."

Describing himself as "a pro-European president" at a pro-European country that "honors its duties and responsibilities," Rosen Plevneliev, during an address before the European Parliament, said his country is "the first line in the crisis which cuts across Europe, the most difficult test the continent must face since the second world war."

"I want that we all start new engines of integration," he pleaded, "The enlargement process, more efficient and coordinated common European foreign, defense and security policy, the European Energy Union, the Single Digital Market, the EU Capital Markets Union and others."

With this goal, Europe should work to "dispel the doubts of Europeans and reassure them we know where we are heading to," said the Bulgarian president.

"We are a family, we must rest united. Cooperation is not a question of choice but of necessity," he affirmed, deploring that "the refugee crisis is reviving old demons such as populism or nationalism."

"I want to see the borders fall and not be displaced," Plevneliev said, adding, "Europe cannot be an island of stability in world of instability. Good relations with neighbors are essential. It is incumbent on all of us to protect the peace; this is a lesson that we must transmit to the younger generations."

The ratification of the Schengen convention by Bulgaria, allowing it to be integrated into the free circulation zone alongside 22 EU member states and 4 associated countries, should have been effective as of Jan. 1, 2014, but was postponed due to opposition from some EU member states. Endit