No Change in Austria’s Position on the Admission of Bulgaria in Schengen, Vienna promised EU Funding for our Border

There is no change in Austria's position on the enlargement of the Schengen area. This became clear after the visit of Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer to the Bulgarian-Turkish border near Elhovo.

Austria will support Bulgaria's request for 2 billion, in front of the European Commission, to strengthen the security of our border.

Nehammer is visiting Bulgaria at the invitation of President Rumen Radev. The two met at the border near Elhovo with the measures taken to protect the EU's external border with Turkey.

Rumen Radev and Karl Nehammer also visited the Regional Directorate "Border Police" in Elhovo, where the Regional Coordination Center is located, part of the Integrated Monitoring System of the Bulgarian-Turkish border.

After getting acquainted with the way in which the Bulgarian-Turkish border is guarded, Karl Nehammer thanked for the efforts that Bulgaria is making in this area, because "the protection of the Bulgarian-Turkish border is actually also the protection of the border of Austria".

Nehammer stressed that a European-wide effort is needed to deal with the migrant pressure, including aid to the frontline countries. Therefore, Austria will support before the EC the 2 billion euros requested by Bulgaria for the purchase of more technical equipment, helicopters, off-road vehicles and the improvement of the infrastructure in the border area.

"I want to express my deepest condolences to the relatives of the Bulgarian border policemen who lost their lives in the line of duty. The protection of the Bulgarian-Turkish border is actually also the protection of the border of Austria. That is why we are extremely grateful for the efforts that Bulgaria is laying down. We had the opportunity to see what...