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

National interest is protected in agreement with Greece on the water of Arda River

The national interest is protected. There is no dominant or subordinate position in inter-neighborly relations. This is how Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov responded to a parliamentary question from Vazrazhdane party about the..

published on 5/9/25 11:42 AM

Bulgaria did not stop the plane of the Serbian president from flying to Moscow

Bulgaria had no reason to prohibit the plane of President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić from flying over Bulgarian airspace en route to Moscow for the military parade on May 9. This was what Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said in..

published on 5/9/25 10:37 AM

With the introduction of the euro all accounts will be converted free of charge

The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) will stop announcing the base interest rate after the introduction of the euro as national currency. This is stated in the series of questions and answers with which the central bank explains the..

published on 5/9/25 9:37 AM