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

EU needs Bulgaria and Romania in Schengen, says Economy Minister

Bogdan Bogdanov
Photo: BTA

Europe's economic development and security depend on the full integration of Bulgaria and Romania into Schengen and the euro area - this is what we want to make clear today, together with the business sector and the bilateral chambers of commerce, said Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Industry Bogdan Bogdanov. 

Mr Bogdanov and his Romanian counterpart Ștefan-Radu Oprea visited the Danube Bridge border crossing at Ruse. Both officials said that queues of heavy lorries and slow passage at the border were hampering business and causing significant financial damage. 

The ministers are attending a Bulgarian-Romanian business conference to discuss the losses to the region and investors caused by the two countries' delay in joining Schengen. The Austrian ambassador to Bulgaria, Andrea Ikic-Böhm, is among those attending the forum.

The GDP of the two countries is expected to grow by 3 to 5% if they join Schengen and the eurozone.



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

Sofia City Court postpones the extradition case of the owner of a ship linked to the explosion in Lebanon

The Sofia City Court has postponed the extradition case of Igor Grechushkin, the owner of a cargo ship linked to the explosion at the port of Beirut in 2020, which claimed the lives of more than 200 people and injured thousands. The judges requested..

published on 11/10/25 5:33 PM

Experts and employers discuss opportunities for migrants in the Bulgarian labour market

A conference entitled 'Prospects for the Integration of Refugees and Migrants into the Labour Market' is taking place in Sofia today. The event is organised by the Sofia Municipality as part of a project. It will bring together key experts,..

published on 11/10/25 4:49 PM

A bank CEO: ATMs will be filled with euros on the night of 1 January 2026

ATMs will be stocked with euros on the night of 1 January 2026, so that by morning everyone will be able to withdraw euro banknotes. Nikola Bakalov, CEO of one of Bulgaria’s leading banks and a member of the Management Board of the Association of Banks..

published on 11/10/25 4:14 PM