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

Still no deal with Austria for Schengen, negotiations are ongoing

Photo: Archive

There is no deal for Bulgaria to accept migrants against Austria's agreement to allow Bulgaria into Schengen by air, Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov told bTV. "We are continuing the negotiations. This is their negotiating position, not the final result. What is acceptable is for Bulgaria to comply with the general European rules. If someone wants other rules that are specific to Bulgaria, this is categorically unacceptable. Regarding the reception of migrants - there are European rules, we will work according to them," said the Prime Minister. 

In front of bTV, Bulgarian Minister of Justice Atanas Slavov also supported the position of Prime Minister Denkov.

The reports  published in the Austrian media that Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner was ready to soften Austria's Schengen veto for Romania and Bulgaria caused reactions from opposition parties. 

Austrian Freedom Party spokesman Hannes Amesbauer accused the ruling Austrian People's Party of a "planned staged retreat" and abandonment of the "Fortress Austria" plan. The MP from the opposition NEOS party, Claudia Gamon, emphasized that Romania and Bulgaria fulfill all the criteria for joining Schengen and it is "impertinence to request to negotiate for something that belongs to them". 

Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen spoke out against Vienna's veto and said their migrant problems came from Hungary, not Bulgaria and Romania, calling for "the government to better protect its investment interests" in the two countries.



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

Stanislav Balabanov

Bulgarian Parliament to issue declaration against sending Bulgarian soldiers to Ukraine

Over 70% of Bulgarians are categorically against sending a military contingent to Ukraine. This was stated by Dimitar Ganev from the sociological agency “Trend” in an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio. President Radev opposes sending..

published on 2/20/25 1:14 PM

No one has requested Bulgaria's participation in a peacekeeping operation in Ukraine

Nowhere and in no way has anyone discussed the issue of sending troops to Ukraine to participate in hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, Bulgaria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev told MPs in parliament. Foreign Minister Georgiev..

published on 2/20/25 11:34 AM
Photo: Consulate General of Bulgaria in Los Angeles

Beverly Hills declares March 3 as Bulgarian–American Friendship Day

On February 19th, the day when Bulgarians worldwide commemorate 152 years since the passing of the Apostle of Freedom, Vasil Levski, Bulgaria’s National Liberation Day, March 3rd, received special recognition in Beverly Hills.  Mayor Lester Friedman..

published on 2/20/25 10:09 AM