08/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - The evaluation of the state of Bulgaria and Romania's preparations to enter the Schengen area has been launched, Slovenia's Interior Minister Dragutin Mate indicated on Tuesday 8 January at a meeting between the EU presidency and the Commission in Ljubljana. According to the minister, the two latest countries to join the Union could also join the Schengen area in 2011-2012, Bulgarian press agency BTA reports. (B.C.)