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

International festival of comedy and satirical performances takes place in Gabrovo

Nine titles will be presented on 4 stages during the International Festival of Comedy Performances in Gabrovo. The organizer of the event, which will take place from April 2 to 6, is Racho Stoyanov Drama Theater - Gabrovo. Two of the..

published on 4/2/25 7:05 AM

The weather remains cloudy and rainy

Over the next 24 hours, there will be no significant change in the weather conditions - it will be cloudy and rainy. On Wednesday, the precipitation will weaken and stop by the end of the day. There will be a moderate wind from..

published on 4/1/25 7:00 PM

Only 5% of prisoners in Bulgaria find work after release

Only 5% of prisoners in Bulgaria find work after serving their sentence . According to the Varna-based Altruist Association, quoted by BNT, 75% return to prison within the first year, mostly for theft. Experts from the organisation stress the need for..

published on 4/1/25 6:00 PM