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

Bulgaria and Romania to discuss full Schengen membership with Austria in Budapest 

Photo: ЕПА/БГНЕС

A meeting of the interior ministers of Bulgaria, Romania and Austria in Budapest could lead to a change in Austria's stance on the two countries joining the Schengen area. This is reported in the Austrian media. 

The meeting will take place on 22 November, the Austrian Ministry of the Interior has confirmed, reports BNR Horizon. It will be hosted by Hungary, which holds the EU presidency. Vienna, currently the only country opposing full Schengen membership for Bulgaria and Romania, has set conditions for lifting its veto, such as increased funding for external border security and more border controls between Bulgaria and Romania.

Asked by a journalist whether the Austrian veto could be expected to be lifted, the Austrian Interior Ministry responded with statistics showing a significant decrease in the number of illegal border crossings into Bulgaria and Romania - by 46% and 10% respectively compared to last year.



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

Seattle proclaims 24 May Bulgarian Cultural Heritage Day

May 24 has been declared Bulgarian Cultural Heritage Day in Seattle , according to BNR correspondent Elena Tsaneva in Chicago. 'May 24 marks the creation of the Cyrillic alphabet, which became a cornerstone of literacy and communication for..

published on 5/23/25 4:13 PM
His Excellency Nathaniel Copsey (L) and Minister Miroslav Borshosh

A growing number of British tourists are choosing Bulgaria as their holiday destination

The Minister of Tourism, Miroslav Borshosh, met with the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Bulgaria, His Excellency Nathaniel Copsey. They discussed opportunities for expanding bilateral cooperation in tourism and developing specific initiatives to..

published on 5/23/25 3:31 PM

Bulgaria values the humanitarian work of the Order of Malta, PM Zhelyazkov tells Grand Chancellor di Montecupo

In Rome, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov met the Grand Chancellor of the Order of Malta, Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo. Zhelyazkov emphasised that Bulgaria values the Order's noble and humanitarian activities, which align with the shared..

published on 5/23/25 3:21 PM