“Bulgaria must ensure equal access to justice for all European citizens until 1 January 2007 and must not forget about the assumed commitments,” said Ms. Bridget Czarnota, Head of the Bulgaria Unit of the Enlargement Directorate General of the European Commission, at the International Conference “Bulgaria, Austria and the European Union”, jointly organised by the Parliamentary Internal Security and Public Order Committee and the Austrian Institute for International Affairs.

At the opening of the conference, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gergana Grancharova said that Bulgaria contributes to and has already been a part of the EU area of freedom, security and justice.

Deputy Minister of Interior Boyko Kotzev noted the significant progress achieved by Bulgaria in improving the border control, the harmonization of the national legislation and the identity documents.