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

Bulgaria and Romania remain outside Schengen

| updated on 12/8/22 6:12 PM
Photo: European Council

Only Croatia will be admitted to the Schengen area from January 1, while Bulgaria and Romania remain outside the open travel zone. In today's vote in the EU Council, Austria has blocked the accession of Romania and Bulgaria into Schengen, while the Netherlands supported Romania's bid but opposed Bulgaria's
25 countries voted in favour of Bulgaria. Earlier it was reported that during the discussion the Netherlands had requested a new report on Bulgaria under the Cooperation and Verification and Mechanism (CVM). Introduced upon the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU, the CVM aimed to bring the two countries in line with EU standards in rule of law. The mechanism was lifted in 2019. The information was provided by BNR correspondent in Brussels Angelina Piskova.
Bulgaria has never had more support for Schengen. Foreign Minister Nikolay Milkov said the issue would be raised at upcoming meetings with the European Union. He expects a new positive decision on Bulgaria's accession to Schengen in March

"The issue is political", caretaker Minister of Interior Ivan Demerdzhiev said with regard to the decision of Austria and the Netherlands to stop Bulgaria for Schengen. In his view, the Netherlands’ position is not constructive. "For the time being, Bulgaria will not take reciprocal measures", Minister Demerdzhiev 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

Rain to continue into the weekend

Saturday will be cloudy with cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds, especially in the afternoon. Rain will fall in many places, with thunderstorms in some areas. Winds will be moderate west-northwest. Maximum temperatures will be between 14° and 19°C, around..

published on 4/4/25 7:05 PM

21 years since the tragedy in the River Lim in which 12 Bulgarian children lost their lives

It is 21 years today since the tragedy in the River Lim on the border between Serbia and Montenegro, in which 12 Bulgarian children were killed. On 4 April, 2004, a group of 34 students and 16 adults from Svishtov were returning home from a school..

published on 4/4/25 5:22 PM

Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia sign green energy cooperation pact

Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Baku on cooperation in the transmission and trade of green energy.  The document was inked by the energy ministers of Bulgaria and Azerbaijan, Zhecho Stankov and..

published on 4/4/25 4:34 PM