Sécurité, stabilité et soutien aux processus de réforme
Mesures de sécurisation des frontières

Bulgarian SIS end users, SIRENE personnel, law enforcement; civil society.

Under the EU roadmap, Bulgaria is expected to join Schengen on 31.03.2011. The abolition of controls at the internal borders will facilitate Bulgarian tourism. To offset the abolition of the systematic control of persons, police co-operation has been strengthened by establishing an automated search database throughout the Schengen area, each Member State having its own national centre – the SIRENE Bureau. Establishing a SIRENE Bureau that fulfils Schengen requirements and starting up the Schengen Information System (SIS) are two of the conditions for opening Schengen’s internal borders.

The overall objective is to ensure that Bulgaria can join Schengen by March 2011. In co-operation with Switzerland, the project aims to increase the professional competence of the Bulgarian SIRENE Bureau officers, to prepare for the Evaluation, and to raise awareness about the effects of Schengen.

Swiss assistance comprises mainly: a. Training Bulgarian law enforcement personnel in the area of SIS/SIRENE; b. Compiling and financing a second edition of a flyer for law enforcement agencies; c. Preparing for the Evaluation and in the implementation of eventual recommendations made by the expert group during the Evaluation; d. Financing of awareness-raising measures for civil society; e. Procurement of material needed to enhance functionality of the SIRENE Bureau and training.

 The expected results are:

• An operative SIS and SIRENE Bureau in Bulgaria guarantee the compliant application of Schengen standards.
• The Evaluation is complete and has been conducted successfully.
• The civil society is informed about the effects of Schengen.