Multi-speed Europe

Transport Minister Georgi Gvozdeikov revealed Bulgaria's prospects for full Schengen membership, linking it to the impending adoption of the euro. Gvozdeikov anticipates a lift in land border controls as the country aims for full Schengen integration by the year's end, coinciding with the projected euro adoption in 2025.

Kostadin Kostadinov, the leader of Bulgaria's nationalist pro-Russian Vazrazhdane (Revival) party, strongly opposes Bulgaria signing the EU Migration Pact, cautioning that it could transform the country into a sprawling refugee camp.

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, a prominent Bulgarian Member of the European Parliament representing "Renew Europe," has expressed a tempered view on Bulgaria's Schengen prospects, suggesting that the country may face delays in its land-based Schengen entry.

Hundreds of Kosovars rushed to Pristina airport to travel to EU countries on Monday after visas for Europe's open-borders Schengen zone were waived.

Kosovo was the only country in the Western Balkans whose citizens still needed visas to travel to the EU, many of whose members are part of the programme.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel extended gratitude to the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council for their collaborative efforts facilitating Bulgaria's Schengen accession. With Belgium gearing up to assume the EU Presidency, Gabriel welcomed and highlighted the six key priorities laid out by the incoming leadership.

Citizens of European Union members Romania and Bulgaria will no longer need a passport from March 31, 2024 to travel by air or sea to most other EU countries as well as Norway and Switzerland, the council of EU governments said on Saturday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Mariya Gabriel, expressed gratitude to the collective efforts that propelled Bulgaria into the Schengen agreement for air and sea borders. Highlighting Bulgaria's pivotal role in safeguarding the European Union's external boundaries, Gabriel emphasized the country's robust border control system, reinforcing EU security.

Austria's stipulations for entry into the Schengen zone have sparked fierce criticism from opposition parties in Bulgaria, citing concerns of transforming the nation into a large refugee hub.

According to Romanian daily Adevarul, negotiations for Romania's full accession to the Schengen area are slated for the latter half of 2024, as revealed by undisclosed political sources.

UPDATE: The European Commission and Bulgaria confirmed that there is no obligation to accept additional refugees. Read more about this new information here.