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

It is unprofitable for Europe to have Bulgaria and Romania outside Schengen: Finance Minsiter

Photo: Screenshot /Die Welt

Russian propaganda in Bulgaria suggests that Bulgarians are second-class EU citizens. With our entry into Schengen, this will change, says Bulgarian Finance Minister Assen Vassilev in an interview with Die Welt.

According to Vassilev, it is economically unprofitable for Central and Western Europe for Bulgaria and Romania to be outside the zone without border control. 

"Every day, 4,000 trucks cross the Bulgarian-Turkish border to Western Europe, but stay for days at the border with Romania. This makes the transported goods more expensive," Vassilev explains. 

The minister also told Die Welt that the additional fee of 20% imposed on the Russian gas transit through Bulgaria will reduce the profit of Gazprom and make the supply more expensive, which in turn makes the import of Russian gas unprofitable for countries such as Austria and Hungary .



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

The "Spartan" aircraft transports five seriously injured fire victims from North Macedonia to Bulgarian hospitals

The "Spartan" aircraft of the Bulgarian Air Force has left for North Macedonia on the orders of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, the government's press service announced. It will transport five seriously injured victims of the fire at a nightclub in the..

published on 3/16/25 5:06 PM
Health Minister Silvi Kirilov

Coordination team led by health minister mobilises to aid fire victims in North Macedonia

The Bulgarian Ministry of Health has organised medical assistance for those injured in the nightclub fire in northern Macedonia. The tragedy, which occurred overnight in the town of Kočani, claimed the lives of more than 50 people and left more than 100..

published on 3/16/25 2:40 PM

Bulgaria offers assistance to North Macedonia following Kočani nightclub tragedy

In response to the tragedy in North Macedonia, where more than 50 people lost their lives in a fire at a nightclub in the town of Kočani, Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev offered condolences and assistance to the families and relatives of the victims,..

published on 3/16/25 12:53 PM