"Schengen remains closed to Bulgaria and Romania," stated Germany's Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich in an interview for Rheinische Post. "I consider it impossible to open the borders to Bulgaria and Romania at this moment," added Friedrich.

Friedrich reckons that Bulgaria and Romania can, however, join the Schengen area in two stages. The first stage will involve the abolition of passport control at ports and airports, while the second one will consist of removing passport control at land borders.

"I appeal to keep this process divided in two stages. But I am skeptical that we can start implementing the first stage as early as this year," added Friedrich.