Law enforcement in Europe

Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mariya Gabriel, engaged in a productive conversation with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, regarding Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen area.

Austria is considering prolonging border controls with its Schengen neighbors due to the surge in migrant arrivals, announced Interior Minister Gerhard Karner during a press conference in Vienna alongside Bavarian counterpart Joachim Herrmann.

During a meeting in The Hague, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte expressed his strong support for Bulgaria's immediate acceptance as a full member of the Schengen area, including for land borders. Currently, Bulgaria is accepted into the "air and sea Schengen".

As Bulgaria anticipates the full integration into the Schengen Agreement, a potential hurdle looms on the horizon, suggesting delays that could extend beyond the initially projected 2025 timeline.

Bulgaria saw a 22 percent increase in Turkish visitors during December 2023, as the Ministry of Tourism revealed. Considering this trend, Bulgarian authorities will focus on promoting the destination in the Turkish market, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Bulgaria recorded a 22 percent increase in Turkish tourists last December.

In a collaborative effort, a group of MEPs and MPs from Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania, including Daniel Laurer from "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB), is urging the removal of border controls along the land borders between the three countries.

A recent Gallup International Balkan study revealed that Bulgarians generally welcome their country's partial entry into the Schengen zone, indicating that full entry would be seen as a significant success if the government effectively addresses concerns about migration.

In a recent interview with GERB MEP Andrey Novakov, Bulgaria's trajectory toward Schengen and Eurozone accession came under the spotlight. Novakov, expressing confidence, hinted at the possibility of securing a 2025 entry date into the land-based Schengen zone once Austria forms a new government.

Switzerland has decided to eliminate passport checks at its airports for travelers flying to and from Bulgaria and Romania, following the European Union's recent move to admit the two countries into "air and sea Schengen".

Bulgarian employers, represented by major organizations including the Confederation of Employers (KRIB), the Chamber of Commerce (BCC), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), and the Association of Industrial Capital (AIC), have outlined their business priorities for the year, emphasizing the need for significant reforms in the country.