Schengen

Travelers passing through Terminal 2 of Sofia Airport can now enjoy a smoother journey with the introduction of electronic self-scanning counters for boarding passes. Set to officially launch on March 6, this innovative system aims to streamline the passenger experience, reducing wait times and enhancing efficiency during the security check process.

New conditions for Schengen. Vienna wants increased border control between Bulgaria and Romania, as well as sending Austrian advisers to work with teams at the airports in Bucharest and Sofia. It is also a condition that Romania and Bulgaria accept Afghans and Syrians seeking asylum.

"Only united can we hope for a good result, and not by accusing each other of showing weakness" - this is how the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel commented on the tension in the ruling coalition in connection with the unknowns surrounding the acceptance of Bulgaria into Schengen:

Foreign Affairs Minister Ramona Manescu said on Thursday that Romania's accession to Schengen remains a priority of the Romanian diplomacy. "Evoking the period when I was MEP, I can certainly tell you that (...) all the time both [the European] Parliament and the Commission said Romania was prepared to join Schengen, from a technical and logistical point of view.

In an interview with Dutch NOS broadcaster, Rutte said that countries that signed the free movement Schengen agreement "also have obligations - they can't only enjoy the benefits, but must also take on the responsibilities that the agreement carries with it."

At an official ceremony in Bucharest on occasion of the start of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani voiced hopes that Bulgaria and Romania would join the Schengen Area during the Romanian EU Presidency, reported the Bulgarian National Radio. 

EURONEWS. - European Union leaders have reached an agreement on migration after almost nine hours of talks in Brussels over the sensitive issue threatening their union and zone of free travel, as well as German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government.

"EU28 leaders have agreed on (summit) conclusions, including on migration," the chairman of the talks, Donald Tusk, said.

''We have fulfilled all the criteria for entry into Schengen. I hope next year to get access at least by air and sea. " That was what Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva told Nova TV, quoted by BGNES.

France will extend checks at borders with fellow Schengen members until April 30, the interior ministry said Thursday, citing the "persistent" terror threat to prolong controls in place since the November 2015 Paris attacks.

France and Germany have called for the right to reintroduce border controls within the passport-free Schengen zone for as long as four years in the face of the continuing threat of terrorism, according to the Guardian.