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

The Netherlands wants no “sugar-coating of the truth” in the EC’s assessment of Bulgaria, PM Mark Rutte says

Mark Rutte at the European Council meeting in Brussels, 26 October, 2023
Photo: EPA/BGNES

The Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte expects an honest assessment of Bulgaria by the European Commission, with “no sugar-coating of the truth”.

“We have to be tough but fair on Bulgaria. I know that Nikolai (Denkov) is working very seriously in this government. But we have to see what the Commission will say in December. It has to be strict but fair. That means no sugar-coating of the truth, no shortcuts to Schengen. I know that Ursula von der Leyen is working honestly and rigorously, and then we must see the results. The country can join Schengen if it meets all the requirements,” Mark Rutte said.

Věra Jourová and Nikolai Denkov
“You have our full support for Schengen. All the conditions for Schengen accession have been met,” Věra Jourová, Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency said during a meeting with Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov in Brussels, and went on to add that this position is shared by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. 

Photos: EPA/BGNES, Council of Ministers of Bulgaria 



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 town of Apriltsi hosts the Festival of Bacon and Mulled Rakia

Today and tomorrow, the town of Apriltsi, located in the Balkan Mountains, is hosting the traditional Festival of Bacon and Mulled Rakia, which brings together thousands of tradition enthusiasts, reported BNR correspondent Plamen Hristov. Visitors..

published on 2/15/25 10:00 AM

Temperatures will drop over the weekend with light rain and snow showers expected

On Saturday it will be mostly cloudy with occasional sunny spells in the Upper Thracian Lowlands. In eastern Bulgaria there will be light to moderate east-northeasterly winds. Minimum temperatures will be between minus 1° and 4°C, around minus 1° in..

published on 2/14/25 7:05 PM

The Commission on Protection of Competition conducts major survey in the food sector

The Commission on Protection of Competition has requested information from producers and retailers of fast-moving consumer goods to determine the pricing methods, delivery conditions and factors influencing price changes . The focus of the study is on..

published on 2/14/25 5:52 PM