Visas

At an official ceremony in Bucharest on occasion of the start of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani voiced hopes that Bulgaria and Romania would join the Schengen Area during the Romanian EU Presidency, reported the Bulgarian National Radio. 

The main reasons for the notable activity in the Greek property market are the Golden Visa program and the high returns offered by investing in property for short-term rentals, according to Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung (NZZ).

/Balkan Insight/ The European Parliament on Tuesday adopted a report stressing that Romania and Bulgaria's readiness to join the Schengen Agreement should not be linked to the rule of law in the two countries, despite the lack of consensus on the matter in the European Council, the European Union's top decision-making body.

The European Parliament on Tuesday adopted a report stressing that Romania and Bulgaria's readiness to join the Schengen Agreement should not be linked to the rule of law in the two countries, despite the lack of consensus on the matter in the European Council, the European Union's top decision-making body.

By the end of the mandate of the current European Commission, Bulgaria can be admitted to the Schengen Area.

The European Commission's monitoring reports are not a whim by Brussels but a necessary mechanism for Bulgaria, Ognian Zlatev, Head of the EC Representation in Bulgaria, told Focus Radio in connection with Bulgaria's progress under the cooperation and verification mechanism.

MEPs reiterated on Monday (5 November) their call on EU ministers to take a swift and affirmative decision on the accession of Bulgaria and Romania as fully-fledged members to the Schengen area, reported EUreporter.co

The security department of Sofia International Airport on Thursday said it had fired one employee and sanctioned several others after they failed to perform security checks on a group of 40 Lebanese tourists on September 3. 

Media quoted the airport management as blaming a number of managers and supervisors for the blunder, who received administrative sanctions and official warnings.

German MEP Manfred Weber, who is endorsed by chancellor Angela Merkel to take over the presidency of the European Commission, has stated on Wednesday that the justice amendments are affecting not only Romania's bid to join Schengen area, but also the ones of Bulgaria and Croatia.

President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday he is "moderately optimistic" that Romania's justice legislation will withstand careful scrutiny by the European Commission.