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

Von der Leyen wants Bulgaria, Romania in Schengen "witout further delay"

Photo: EPA/BGNES / Photo: ЕПА/БГНЕС

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged EU countries to immediately accept Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area in her annual State of the Union address. "They have proved it: Bulgaria and Romania are part of our Schengen area. So let us finally bring them in – without any further delay," she insisted before the MEPs in Strasbourg. She thanked the two countries for their leading role in implementing best practices in the field of asylum and return.

"We have been waiting for this call from Ursula von der Leyen. We all expect member states to comply with it," Bulgarian Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel commented from Strasbourg. "As far as the Netherlands is concerned, the European Commission's request was a decisive step. Bulgaria must show the Netherlands a long-term commitment to the rule of law. I believe that with the work of the government and parliament over the last three months, Bulgaria has made a clear commitment that we can rely on. Austria is not opposed to the accession of Bulgaria and Romania," Gabriel added.



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

Premier Zhelyazkov: EU should remain united and predictable in its overall support for Ukraine

The European Union must remain united and predictable in its overall support for Ukraine, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said in his speech at the second emergency meeting on Ukraine, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, announced..

published on 2/20/25 8:32 AM

Second day of boycotting big grocery chains announced on February 20

Public organizations in Bulgaria have announced a second day of boycott of grocery chains for February 20 , after reporting the success of the first such initiative in our country.  On the first day of the boycott, according to data from the..

published on 2/20/25 7:35 AM

Bulgarian Parliament to hear cabinet ministers on US "questionnaire" related to Ukraine peacekeeping operation

The Bulgaria Parliament will hear today the Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev about a "questionnaire" prepared by the US on topics related to Bulgaria's readiness to participate in a special military..

published on 2/20/25 6:05 AM