20/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - In the very near future, the Bulgarian government intends to send a declaration to the EU Council secretariat in which it is expected to confirm that it is ready to begin the evaluation process leading to inclusion in the Schengen Area on 1 January 2008, the spokesperson for the Bulgarian representation with the EU said on Friday. The government is said to be ready for the assessment in all fields - police cooperation, personal data protection, visas, borders and the Schengen Information System. If the assessment process begins early 2008, it may last three to four years, thus ending mid-2010. Bulgaria may therefore be able to join the common area without borders in 2011. (bc)