Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva on Monday said her country is ready to enter Schengen area but would unlikely be admitted into the visa-free area amid the refugee crisis.
"Before this serious crisis unfolded, most countries -- if not all -- favoured expanding the Schengen zone. But in recent days and the last few weeks, I have more reason to worry," Kuneva said.
"I have no hesitation that Schengen enlargement with Bulgaria and Romania at this moment will make the Schengen policy and the Schengen as an area of security even more stable," she said.
She said she was convinced Bulgaria and Romania were ready to join Schengen by opening their air borders, Xinhua news agency reported.
Bulgaria and Romania, European Union members since 2007, had hoped to join Schengen in March 2011. However, some Schengen members expressed reluctance due to concerns over alleged corruption and the security situation in the two Balkan states.
The Schengen area comprises 26 European countries that have abolished passport and other border controls at their internal borders.
