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

The Netherlands maintains its veto on Bulgaria's Schengen membership

Bulgaria's Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov in Luxembourg, 19 October 2023
Photo: BTA

There is no good reason why Bulgaria's accession to Schengen should not be a fact by the end of the year, said Bulgaria's Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov during the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Luxembourg. He referred to the published report of the European Commission that Bulgaria and Romania have made significant progress in introducing rapid procedures for granting asylum and returning migrants who arrived illegally in the EU. Stoyanov хас emphasized that next week Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov will make a very important visit to Austria on the issue of Schengen.

The Minister for Migration of the Netherlands, Erik van der Burg, stated that it is not likely that The Hague will lift its veto on Bulgaria's admission to the Schengen area in the near future. He again requested an EU commission to arrive in Bulgaria and give an independent assessment of the country's readiness for membership in the Schengen area. 

European Commissioner for Internal Affairs Ylva Johansson told BNR that she was optimistic about the admission of Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen in December.



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

President Radev (R) and King Abdullah II

Aqaba Process summit in Sofia addresses terrorism, migration and radicalisation in the Balkans

The President of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, and the King of Jordan, Abdullah II, are hosting the Aqaba Process Summit, which focuses on the Balkans and brings together nearly 30 delegations. These delegations are led by Heads of State, government..

published on 4/4/25 3:53 PM
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov

Bulgaria cannot intervene in espionage case against Bulgarians in the UK, says PM Zhelyazkov

Bulgaria cannot intervene in the espionage case against Bulgarian citizens in the UK. This was stated by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov during parliamentary question time, in response to a question from the Velichie party.  "Criminal justice is carried..

published on 4/4/25 2:22 PM

Civil society calls for effective policing and an end to animal cruelty

Bulgarians have traditionally had a deep respect and gratitude for domestic animals. For generations, horses, oxen, donkeys and cows have been indispensable partners in agricultural life, faithfully assisting people in their daily work.  While..

published on 4/4/25 1:53 PM