Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria and Romania to discuss full Schengen membership with Austria in Budapest 

Photo: ЕПА/БГНЕС

A meeting of the interior ministers of Bulgaria, Romania and Austria in Budapest could lead to a change in Austria's stance on the two countries joining the Schengen area. This is reported in the Austrian media. 

The meeting will take place on 22 November, the Austrian Ministry of the Interior has confirmed, reports BNR Horizon. It will be hosted by Hungary, which holds the EU presidency. Vienna, currently the only country opposing full Schengen membership for Bulgaria and Romania, has set conditions for lifting its veto, such as increased funding for external border security and more border controls between Bulgaria and Romania.

Asked by a journalist whether the Austrian veto could be expected to be lifted, the Austrian Interior Ministry responded with statistics showing a significant decrease in the number of illegal border crossings into Bulgaria and Romania - by 46% and 10% respectively compared to last year.



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

Delyan Peevski

DPS "New Beginning" leaves ALDE

In a statement to the media, party leader Delyan Peevski announced that he had sent a letter to the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, in which he announced the decision of DPS-New Beginning to terminate its membership in ALDE. It was taken..

published on 12/23/24 1:03 PM

Citizens demand humane conditions in municipal animal shelters

Animal protection organizations protested in front of the Sofia Municipality, demanding humane treatment in municipal shelters. Environmentalists point out that the dogs are suffering in the cold, crammed into shared cages where they end up eating..

published on 12/23/24 11:00 AM

The repair of Chaira Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant has been completed

The repair of the second hydro  unit at the Chaira Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant has been completed, reported BNT. Caretaker Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov is expected to inspect the facility in the presence of caretaker Premier Dimitar..

published on 12/23/24 10:02 AM