Bulgaria is now just one positive Cooperation and Verification Mechanism report away from its phased-in Schengen entry, according to Dutch Ambassador to the country Karel Van Kesteren.

The Netherlands had already stated that it needed to see two positive CVM reports before letting Bulgaria and Romania join the Schengen Agreement with their air and sea borders.

During a press conference on Tuesday, van Kesteren cited Dutch PM Mark Rutte's words that February's interim report was more or less positive, adding that he hoped the last necessary positive report to arrive this summer.

"This is completely in your hands. I hope that it will do everything possible to achieve it," the Ambassador declared, as cited by BGNES.

Karel van Kesteren pinpointed two key topics on which his country hopes Bulgaria would register progress: adopting and effectively enforcing legislation on illegal assets seizure and increasing transparency in the appointments of Supreme Judicial Council members.

The potential opening of Bulgaria's land borders will be discussed in a later stage and after this summer's CVM report, the diplomat clarified.

According to van Kesteren, not just a single Dutch party but the whole political spectrum in the country has voiced concerns about Bulgaria's Schengen readiness. His statement was triggered by allegations that the far-right Freedom Party (PVV) of Geert Wilders may have pressured the government to oppose Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen aspirations.

At the beginning of March Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte reiterated that his government is not against the two countries joining the free zone, but wants absolute guarantees they will be applying the Schengen criteria.

The two EU newcomers were expected to enter Schengen in the spring of 2011, but their entry was blocked by countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland, who had worries that problems with organized crime and corruption might jeopardize safety in the Schengen Area.

Both Bulgaria and Romania have been placed under the so-called EU Cooperation and Verification Mechanism in justice and home affairs, in view of perceived problems in the management of corruption and organized crime.