TALLINN - The European Union experts have questioned Estonia's readiness to join the Schengen area, as border guard posts on Estonia's eastern border lack officers.
Two years ago, the EU allocated more than 46 million euros to develop Estonia's border service, which has helped border security develop technically, the Postimees daily reported.
Nevertheless, foreign experts doubt Estonia's border control efficiency as the number of border guards has, according to an anonymous EU expert, fallen below the critical level.
"If such doubts are reflected in evaluation reports, Estonia will first have to inform (the EU) about the steps it is going to take to improve the situation and after a while report what has been done," the expert told the daily.
Interior Minister Kalle Laanet said he hopes the Baltic state's capability will not be questioned. He also promised to make a stand in the government for a minimum monthly wage of 7,500 kroons (480 euros) for border guards.
