Schengen Area

Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Mariya Gabriel has announced significant progress in Bulgaria's bid to join the Schengen Area during her discussions with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. Gabriel emphasized the backing received from the Belgian Presidency of the EU, ensuring that the Schengen issue remains a top priority.

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.

Bulgaria's Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov engaged in vital discussions with Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko on January 16, focusing on the strategic coordination of sunflower seed import and transit. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, resulted in the reaffirmation of a licensing regime established in the autumn of 2023.

The Vice-President of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič, announced strong backing for Bulgaria and Romania's full accession to the Schengen zone by the end of the year. Speaking before the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Šefčovič emphasized ongoing efforts to reinforce external borders and pilot projects with FRONTEX.

Bulgarian Tourism Minister, Zaritsa Dinkova, foresees increased tourist convenience with Bulgaria's potential entry into Schengen by air and sea. Dinkova highlighted the anticipated reduction of check-in times by 20 minutes per person, eliminating the need for tourists to navigate more distant terminals.

In a recent interview with Die Presse, Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner shared insights into the complexities surrounding the Schengen entry of Bulgaria and Romania. Addressing concerns about the overall disarray in the migration system, Karner stressed the need for a functioning system at the European level.

Sofia, Bulgaria, claims the third position in the ranking of the best European weekend destinations for the year 2024, according to Sofia Airport. This recognition is based on TripAdvisor reviews focusing on each European capital's nightlife and accommodation costs.

Top Three European Weekend Destinations:

Bulgaria's journey toward integration into the Schengen Area marked a notable development as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel disclosed plans to negotiate the country's accession to Schengen for land borders in 2024. This revelation emerged during the parliamentary Question Time on Friday.

Visa liberalization has entered into force for holders of passports issued by Pristina.
This is shown by the Pristina Institute for Advanced Studies (GAP) report, which was presented today.

"During the negotiations for the admission of Bulgaria into Schengen by air and sea, the Bulgarian government did not undertake any other obligation than to react quickly enough, as required by the Dublin Agreement, in terms of the speed of processing asylum applications".