Austria

The United States' behind-the-scenes efforts have influenced Austria's change of heart regarding Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen entry, according to reports by the Austrian newspaper Der Standard. Recent discussions led by former US Ambassador Ronald Lauder and US Assistant Secretary of State James O'Brien in Vienna played a pivotal role in convincing Austria to lift its veto.

Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov clarified that ongoing negotiations with Austria have yet to yield a finalized agreement for Bulgaria's accession to Schengen by air. Speaking to bTV, Denkov emphasized the necessity for compliance with general European regulations, dismissing the prospect of Bulgaria adhering to specific rules exclusive to the nation.

This was told to the Austrian APA agency at the Ministry of the Interior in Vienna.
"Close cross-border cooperation in the fight against brutal people smugglers is absolutely necessary. The knowledge of Austrian drone specialists is therefore also sought after on the border of Serbia and North Macedonia," Interior Minister Gerhard Karner told the agency.

European Parliament members Ilhan Kyuchyuk representing Bulgaria and Vlad Botos representing Romania led a protest at Vienna's Ministry of Interior on Monday, denouncing Austria's stance against Bulgaria's and Romania's Schengen area admission. Austrian MP Helmut Brandstatter joined the demonstration.

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, a Bulgarian MEP representing the Renew Europe Group, alongside Romanian MEP Vlad Botos and Austrian MEP Helmut Brandstätter, are slated to stage a demonstration on December 4 in front of Vienna's Ministry of the Interior. The protest aims to challenge Austria's resistance to Bulgaria and Romania's inclusion in the Schengen area.

Bulgaria does not expect today to receive a response from Austria regarding the lifting of the veto against the country's entry into Schengen. This was stated by Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov before his meetings today in the Austrian Parliament, and later with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer.

Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov is leaving today for his first official visit to Vienna in an attempt to change Austria's decision to block Bulgaria's membership in the Schengen area. Talks with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and meetings in the Austrian Parliament are planned.

The EU Council's vote last December to admit Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania into the Schengen area for free travel should have been a triumphant moment for the bloc.

A year and a half after taking office, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made his first bilateral visit to Austria.

"The murder of Aleksei Petrov should not be confused with the admission of Bulgaria to Schengen, which has its own trajectory and clear rules" - this is how the spokeswoman of the European Commission, Anitta Hipper, answered a question about how this case will affect the accession of Bulgaria to the area of free movement.