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

Heavy rain causes new localized flooding, but the situation is gradually returning to normal

Torrential rain flooded underpasses in Varna and caused landslides in various regions of the country. In Veliko Tarnovo (Central Bulgaria), the Yantra River has reached 2 meters and 20 centimeters, which is close to the critical level, but there is no..

published on 10/8/25 9:04 AM
Veliko Tarnovo

Veliko Tarnovo hosts the International Exhibition "Cultural Tourism"

The International Exhibition "Cultural Tourism" will bring together participants from Bulgaria and abroad from October 8 to 10 in Veliko Tarnovo, BTA reports. The event, now being held for the 20th time, combines two key aspects of life in the..

published on 10/8/25 7:50 AM

Lecturers from the National Academy of Art – Burgas Branch present their past and present in the exhibition ''Together''

Lecturers from the National Academy of Art – Burgas Branch open their new creative season with the exhibition "Together". Their works are displayed in the Atelier Gallery in Magazia 1 at the Port Complex Burgas. The lecturers present a joint..

published on 10/8/25 5:45 AM