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

Cooler weather expected on Friday

During the night, the weather will be mostly clear with a light southerly wind. A cold atmospheric front will pass over the country on Friday. Winds will shift from the west-northwest and will strengthen. Cumulonimbus clouds will develop in..

published on 8/21/25 6:40 PM
Ivan Ivanov

More than 260,000 people in Bulgaria suffer from disrupted water supply

As of August 18, a total of 260 868 people, 16 cities and 283 villages have been affected by disrupted water supply, Minister of Regional Development Ivan Ivanov announced at an extraordinary meeting of a parliamentary committee that is discussing a..

published on 8/21/25 5:16 PM
Manol Genov

Manol Genov: We cannot speak of a critical water shortage

Currently, we cannot speak of a critical water shortage regarding drinking and domestic water supply, Minister of Environment and Water Manol Genov said at an extraordinary meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Water discussing a..

published on 8/21/25 4:26 PM