The political parties supporting the government have agreed to postpone the introduction of a fee for the transfer of Russian gas through Bulgaria. "We are working together with the European Commission and when the EC gives us a comprehensive mechanism, then we would apply it. We will follow the general European approach," PP co-chair Kiril Petkov said.

The leader of GERB, Boyko Borisov, linked the elimination of the planned gas transmission fee to acceptance of the country into Schengen. "Bulgaria aims for full membership in Schengen and there must be a clear date for the admission of our country by land, not just by air," Borisov said. DPS also said that Bulgaria should not agree to be admitted to only air-travel Schengen.

• Still no deal with Austria for Schengen, negotiations are ongoing