Bulgaria's place is in Schengen, said in an interview with Bulgarian National Radio European Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova, who is in Sofia to attend the first annual meeting of the Balkan Constitutional Forum. 

She confirmed that the country met all the criteria to be part of the visa-free zone. "The European Commission, which I represent, has clearly said: 'Bulgaria deserves to join Schengen soon'. Personally, as a Czech, I regret that this did not happen last year during the Czech Presidency. I believe that you Bulgarians as a society are doing everything you can to overcome this barrier and join the Schengen area," Jourova told BNR reporter Marta Mladenova.

At a meeting with Jourova, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel thanked the European Commission for its consistent support for Bulgaria's accession to Schengen.