On January 28 2008, Bulgaria and Romania signed a common declaration, setting March 2011 as the final date for full Schengen area membership for both countries.

After the signing ceremony, EU Commissioner Franco Frattini told journalists that he highly appreciated Bulgaria's contribution to a stable Balkan region, Black Sea region security and its fight against drug trafficking in its first year of EU membership.

Within the framework of the meeting in Slovenia, Bulgaria's Interior Minister Rumen Petkov met Dutch home affairs and kingdom relations minister Guusje ter Horst. During the meeting, Petkov presented the anti-corruption reforms implemented at the Bulgarian borders.

Petkov also met with Greek interior and public order minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos. Petkov and Pavlopoulos agreed on expanding border cooperation between the two countries. They decided an agreement would be drafted and signed between the countries to facilitate free movemet of people, goods and services.

Pavlopoulos invited Petkov for an official visit to Greece in February.