Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Interior Minister refuses to predict deadline for Bulgaria's full entry into Schengen

Atanas Ilkov
Photo: Press office of the EU/BTA

Interior Minister Atanas Ilkov has assessed as serious the support Bulgaria is receiving for full Schengen membership. However, he did not commit himself to a timeframe on whether this country will be accepted into Schengen by land by the end of the current European Commission's mandate. 
The next Commission is due to take office on 1 December. 

Speaking to journalists in Luxembourg, where he is attending the EU Council meeting, Ilkov said he had spoken to his Austrian counterpart Gerhard Karner, whose country is vetoing Bulgaria's admission to Schengen, but so far there is no firm position from Vienna, BNR correspondent in Brussels Angelina Piskova reported. 
"In terms of demands from us, there is nothing that we have not fulfilled. We have fulfilled what is asked of us, such as increasing the capacity of the Border Police with all the technical equipment, with all the measures we are implementing to counter organised crime groups organising illegal trafficking, good interaction with Romania, Austria and all other European countries," Ilkov said.



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

Bulgaria marks World AIDS Day with various events in Sofia

On the occasion of World AIDS Day, observed on December 1, volunteers from the Bulgarian Red Cross Youth in Sofia will light tealights on the Lovers' Bridge to form a ribbon representing solidarity with the victims and carriers of the disease...

published on 12/1/24 11:04 AM

Weather forecast: Temperatures continue to drop

Over the next 24 hours the weather will continue cloudy, with rain mostly in the Southwestern half of the country and sleet in high plains. The precipitation over Mounts Rila and the Rhodopes will be considerable. There will be a moderate, in..

published on 11/30/24 6:15 PM

A Kilogram of Kindness collects food for people in need

The Bulgarian Food Bank’s Kilogram of Kindness food drive, is collecting food for the needy for the 12th consecutive time. Four to seven tons of food with a longer shelf lifeis expected to be collected – such as rice, lentils,..

published on 11/30/24 4:44 PM