Multi-speed Europe

The Belgian Presidency of the EU is spearheading efforts to fully integrate Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area. A draft resolution, expected to be voted on today in the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions, underscores the urgency of addressing the border issues between the two countries and the rest of the Schengen zone.

Resigned Minister of Transport, Georgi Gvozdeikov, announced that Bulgaria is fully prepared to carry out air Schengen procedures, following a final inspection conducted by the European Commission at Sofia Airport last week.

Bulgaria is on track to meet the inflation benchmark required for Eurozone membership by September, according to Finance Minister Asen Vassilev. Speaking at a conference focused on the currency union, Vassilev expressed confidence in Bulgaria's ability to fulfill the necessary criteria within the specified timeframe.

The Bank of Greece has lowered its forecast for this year's growth to 2.3% from 2.5% and is fully aligned with the latest estimates of the European Commission, against the budget's estimate for 2.9%.

The BoG's downgrade, the second since December, followed data on last year's growth, which, while outpacing the eurozone average, came in at a slower pace of 2%.

The joint statement on the orientation of the eurozone's fiscal policy for 2025 satisfies Cyprus as it validates the cautious and conservative fiscal policy that Cyprus has followed so far, Minister of Finance Makis Keravnos said on Monday in Brussels, where he was attending the meeting of the Eurogroup.

National Economy and Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis is in Brussels for European Union ministerial meetings. On the sidelines of the sessions, Hatzidakis is to meet European officials. Hatzidakis attended a Eurogroup meeting in Brussels on Monday, and on Tuesday he will take part in the ECOFIN Council.

Turkish authorities are poised to embark on a new three-pronged strategy encompassing intensive diplomatic processes with both the European Union and individual member states to address the challenges frequently encountered by Turkish citizens in obtaining Schengen visas, sources have said.

Manfred Weber, the chairman of the European People's Party (EPP), emphasized the urgency of Bulgaria and Romania joining the Schengen Area, urging Austrian parties to support the move.

European Parliament (EP) President Roberta Metsola affirmed her commitment to Romania's accession to the Schengen area during her visit to Bucharest for the European People's Party (EPP) congress. Metsola emphasized that the Schengen area cannot be considered complete until Romania becomes a part of it.

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has announced that Romania is set to become a part of the Schengen area through its land borders by the end of this year. This declaration comes as Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner refrained from providing a specific timeframe for overcoming the veto on Romania and Bulgaria's entry into Schengen through land routes.