If it was my decision, Bulgaria would be a member of Schengen by land this year, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said at a press conference in The Hague after his meeting with Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov.

Mark Rutte pointed out that Bulgaria was an important partner in the EU on serious topics, including migration, and expressed satisfaction that it is now part of Schengen. He is committed to assisting Bulgaria's acceptance by land as well.

Regarding the war in Ukraine, Mark Rutte pointed out the threat of disinformation used by Russia to influence Bulgarian society. "This shows that the effects of the war extend much further than what we see on the maps," he pointed out.