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

Russia and unstable Balkans are threat to national security

The main threats to Bulgaria's national security are Russia and the instability of the Western Balkans, according to the annual report of the State Agency for National Security (SANS) for 2024. In Bulgaria, two Russian..

published on 4/28/25 9:20 AM

European Council President meets Bulgarian Prime Minister and President

For two decades Bulgaria has known what it is striving for, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said after a meeting with President of the European Council António Costa, who arrived on a three-day visit to Bulgaria. Zhelyazkov pointed..

published on 4/28/25 8:55 AM

“Yes, Bulgaria” elects: One or two co-chairpersons

The political formation “Yes, Bulgaria” which is part of the opposition coalition “Democratic Bulgaria” is calling a national conference to elect a new leader or two leaders to replace former chairman Hristo Ivanov who resigned over poor results at..

published on 4/27/25 8:10 AM