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

A number of districts in Bulgaria declare flu epidemic

After Haskovo and Vidin, temporary anti-epidemic measures are also being introduced in the territory of Yambol from January 21 to 27, in Plovdiv from January 22 to 28 and in Blagoevgrad from January 22 to 30.  Flu epidemic in Bulgaria to reach..

published on 1/20/25 4:22 PM
Transport minister Grozdan Karadzhov

Strict safety measures envisaged in Bulgaria's rail transport after serious train accident

The companies in the structure of the Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) must submit to the new Minister of Transport Grozdan Karadzhov reports on the weaknesses in the safety system and emergency measures to be implemented within a month by the end of the..

published on 1/20/25 3:50 PM
Ivaylo Ivanov

The Chief of Staff of the new Interior Minister resigns amidst social tension

Ivaylo Ivanov has resigned from his post as Chief of Staff of Interior Minister Daniel Mitov and is no longer part of the Interior Ministry team. Ivanov does not want to be a cause for tension in society, the ministry’s press center announced...

published on 1/20/25 1:59 PM