Schengen Area

The European Parliament and the member states reached a provisional deal on Thursday (20 May) on COVID-19 certificates designed to facilitate travel and help revive tourism in Europe.

Bulgaria's caretaker Minister of Health on May 18 issued an Order that changes the requirements for children up to 5 years of age upon entering Bulgaria.

From May 19, no proof of negative result from PCR or antigen test is required for entry into Bulgaria of children up to 5 years of age who are Bulgarian citizens and also citizens of the following countries:

Ljubljana – PCR tests done in Serbia and Turkey will be recognised as a way to avoid quarantine on arrival in Slovenia from Wednesday under an amended decree that the government adopted on Monday.

The Bulgarian Health Minister Thursday issued an order with new rules for entry in Bulgaria from May 1.

Brussels – European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson will start a two-day visit to Slovenia on Thursday to discuss the country’s EU presidency preparations. She intends to raise the issue of media freedom and pluralism as well. Slovenia should not underestimate the risk to its international reputation when it comes to this, Johansson has told the STA.

Bulgaria is among the 13 EU member countries which reached agreement on 7 criteria necessary for the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination certificates.

Ljubljana – The government has expanded the list of exceptions for entry in Slovenia without quarantine or the need to produce a negative PCR test, to include accredited journalists and persons who enter the country for emergency reasons. Coronavirus tests performed in the US and UK have meanwhile been added to the list of valid tests at border crossings.

A majority of Romanians (78.2%) believe they are perceived as "second-class citizens" in the EU, according to an INSCOP poll released on Monday. The survey reveals that 78.2% of the respondents agreed with the statement that "Romanians are seen as 'second-class citizens' in the EU", 20.4% disagreed with the statement, and 1.4% did not know or did not answer.

Ljubljana – Toughened restrictions on Slovenia’s borders entered into effect Monday in advance of an eleven-day circuit-breaker lockdown. There are fewer exemptions and the testing requirement has been stepped up.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds that following the alerts for stopped Bulgarian citizens travelling by public transport and entering Germany from the Czech Republic, that, strict rules for admitting foreign nationals are valid for Germany due to the COVID-19restrictive measures