Ylva Johansson

EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson conducted an inspection of border control measures at Sofia Airport, marking a significant step in Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen Area by air. Accompanied by Bulgaria's caretaker Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov, Commissioner Johansson observed the revamped procedures implemented after Bulgaria's Schengen accession.

EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson praised the revised Schengen legislation and hailed the forthcoming accession of Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen as significant progress. Speaking on Tuesday during the presentation of a report on the state of Schengen, Johansson emphasized the importance of strengthening the European border agency Frontex.

Bulgaria and Romania are poised to become partial members of the Schengen area starting March 31. The European Commission announced that the Schengen rules will apply in both countries, signaling the elimination of border controls at internal air and sea borders.

Anticipation mounts as Vice-President of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas, hints at an imminent decision regarding Bulgaria and Romania's potential accession to the Schengen Area via land routes. Following the European Parliament elections, Schinas foresees a pivotal moment where the two countries may finally secure this vital membership expansion.

European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said in Athens on Monday that Europe's productive population is decreasing by one million every year. The problem is even greater in Greece. Firstly, there is the negative birth and death ratio, signaling an annual population decrease of approximately 50,000 individuals - totaling 1,250,000 people by 2050.

Legal migration to the European Union will have to increase by 1 million people a year to make up for losses in the bloc's ageing workforce, the EU's home affairs chief said on Monday.

The EU member states will need to deal with acute labor shortage issues to counteract demographic decline, stressed the European Union Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson during a visit to Greece on Monday. 

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday commended the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, agreed by the European Union last month, emphasizing that the bloc's credibility is intricately linked to its success in addressing this challenge.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is scheduled to meet with Ylva Johansson, the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, at the Migration Ministry on Monday at 11.30 a.m.

Following the meeting, he will address an event focused on "European Solutions to the Common Challenge of Migration." [AMNA]

Europe faces a "huge risk of terrorist attacks" over the Christmas holiday period due to the fallout from the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, the European Union's home affairs commissioner warned Tuesday.