Bulgaria's Schengen accession 'matter of fairness': Barroso

(SOFIA) - European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso Thursday backed Bulgaria's bid to join the visa-free Schengen area, saying accession was a "matter of fairness" once all requirements had been met.

"I want to reiterate the Commission's support for Bulgaria joining the Schengen area," Barroso said after talks with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

"We consider that Bulgaria has met all the necessary requirements so to have Bulgaria in Schengen is a matter of fairness," he added.

Bulgaria and neighbouring Romania had hoped to join the travel area this year but Finland and the Netherlands blocked their entry in September, alleging poor progress in the fight against corruption and organised crime, although the two countries had met all the technical criteria for entry.

Barroso said the European Commission would keep working "to lift the political obstacles that remain in these two member states."

He encouraged Borisov's right-wing government to continue with efforts on judicial reform and the fight against corruption and organised crime, and to "do its best to explain the efforts made."

Borisov said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte had just accepted an invitation to visit Bulgaria on October 31.

"I will take him to the border to show that we are ready. I hope that what he sees on the ground will make the Netherlands change its decision," Borisov said.

Barroso arrived Thursday on a two-day visit to Bulgaria, where he was to address a meeting of his European People's Party in the evening.

The EPP leadership decided to convene in Sofia to back Borisov's GERB party, an EPP member, ahead of a presidential and municipal vote on October 23.