“We are hoping Bulgaria will become a full member of Schengen by land at the end of 2024,” Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov said in an interview with public service TV BNT. “It will be synchronized with entry into the Eurozone. “Schengen opens up the prospect of a high level of economic development and gives rapid access to goods and people. Speedier traffic will raise the economic indicators,” Minister Gvozdeykov said. “At the moment border capacity is overstrained, the control regime has to be facilitated but implemented strictly,” Georgi Gvozdeykov said further.

Meanwhile, the National Audit Office issued a recommendation to the transport minister to give ports Varna and Burgas under concession. The document reads that the state-run port operators are temporary and privileged and do not pay fees for the use of public state property.