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

Bulgaria and Romania should be in Schengen by end of 2023, European Parliament says

Photo: EPA/BGNES

In a resolution adopted on Wednesday with 526 votes in favour, 57 votes against, and 42 abstaining, Parliament stresses that both countries have already fulfilled the necessary requirements to be admitted into Schengen. 

MEPs regret the Council’s decision of 8 December 2022 to reject their membership “without presenting any legal justification related to accession criteria”. A larger Schengen area without border controls would make the EU stronger, say MEPs, noting that all member states have the right to join Schengen once they are ready. The fact that Romania and Bulgaria are still outside the visa-free travel area burdens the businesses and populations of the two countries socially and economically, according to Parliament.



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

Calin Georgescu

Balkan developments

Far-right Georgescu banned from Romanian election by final ruling Romanian far-right populist Calin Georgescu will not be allowed to stand in Romania's presidential elections in May. His candidacy has been cancelled by the Central Election Commission...

published on 3/14/25 2:07 PM

Foreign Minister Georgiev: Middle powers should play greater role in international relations

The mission of middle powers is to play an increasingly important role in global affairs and to help shape a new multilateralism based on collective action to address global challenges. This was the key message of Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev at the..

published on 3/14/25 1:38 PM
Europe motorway

EU-funded road projects frozen, funding redirected to other projects

EUR 87 million under the operational programme Transport Connectivity, earmarked for the Russe-Veliko Tarnovo motorway is being redirected to the Europe motorway, connecting Sofia with the border with Serbia. Almost EUR 500 million for the..

published on 3/14/25 11:53 AM