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EU needs Bulgaria and Romania in Schengen, says Economy Minister

published on 11/23/23 1:38 PM

Bogdan Bogdanov

Photo: BTA

Europe's economic development and security depend on the full integration of Bulgaria and Romania into Schengen and the euro area - this is what we want to make clear today, together with the business sector and the bilateral chambers of commerce, said Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Industry Bogdan Bogdanov.

Mr Bogdanov and his Romanian counterpart Ștefan-Radu Oprea visited the Danube Bridge border crossing at Ruse. Both officials said that queues of heavy lorries and slow passage at the border were hampering business and causing significant financial damage.

The ministers are attending a Bulgarian-Romanian business conference to discuss the losses to the region and investors caused by the two countries' delay in joining Schengen. The Austrian ambassador to Bulgaria, Andrea Ikic-Böhm, is among those attending the forum.

The GDP of the two countries is expected to grow by 3 to 5% if they join Schengen and the eurozone.

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