Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Austria and the Netherlands are saying “no” to Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen, for now

| updated on 12/6/22 2:53 PM
Photo: archive

In a comment on Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area, made at the EU-Western Balkans summit in Tirana, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte stated that next year Bulgaria could take steps forward. 

“At this stage, it's not “no” for Bulgaria, it's “not yet”. More time will be needed for two reasons: a new assessment of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, and the Schengen Verification Mechanism. I spoke with President Rumen Radev and I'm optimistic that next year we can take steps forward,” Mark Rutte said.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer also stated that Austria is against the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area. “More time is needed. We have 75,000 unregistered illegal immigrants in Austria. This means that they have crossed the external border of the EU and have ended up in a landlocked country like Austria. We have to answer these security questions first," Karl Nehammer said.


Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Literacy and spelling platform searches for the word of 2024

For the fourth consecutive year, the literacy and spelling platform "How to Spell" is searching for the word that best describes the past 365 days of 2024. "Anyone can make their suggestions, even if they repeat – just write them", urges Dolly..

published on 1/6/25 11:46 AM

DPS - New Beginning will submit a proposal for zero VAT on bread and flour

"There is no problem that the adoption of the budget will be slightly delayed, because the Public Finance Act has outlined what happens if the budget is not adopted", National Assembly Speaker Natalia Kiselova said in Kalofer.  ''The Budget and..

published on 1/6/25 9:45 AM
President Radev at the water blessing ceremony in central Sofia on Epiphany (archive)

Water blessing ceremony of the Bulgarian Army Flags to take place on Epiphany

On January 6, the feast of Epiphany, the traditional water blessing of the battle flags and holy flags of the Bulgarian Army will be celebrated in all garrisons of the country. The solemn ritual in Sofia will begin at 11:00 in front of the Monument to..

published on 1/6/25 6:05 AM