Bulgaria’s PM goes to Vienna in an Attempt to Change Austria's Decision about Schengen

Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov is leaving today for his first official visit to Vienna in an attempt to change Austria's decision to block Bulgaria's membership in the Schengen area. Talks with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and meetings in the Austrian Parliament are planned. The Bulgarian delegation includes the Minister of Internal Affairs Kalin Stoyanov and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Elena Shekerletova.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov will be welcomed with military honors by Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer at Ballhausplatz. After that, the Bulgarian Prime Minister will try with concrete arguments to make the Austrian government reconsider its decision.

Part of Bulgaria's arguments are that the number of illegal migrants crossing the country towards Western Europe has significantly decreased this year.

Officially, this is the reason for Austria's veto against Bulgaria's entry into the Schengen area. However, the Austrian Minister of the Interior, Gerhard Karner, is adamant for now:

"The system does not work - neither Schengen nor the Dublin agreement. That is why Austria will not change its decision," said Karner.

During the visit, Prime Minister Denkov will also meet with the chairman of the Association of Austrian Industrialists, Georg Knill, and senior managers of large Austrian companies operating in the Bulgarian market.

According to data from the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, business in the Alpine republic loses about 50 million euros every year from the veto of the government in Vienna against Bulgaria and Romania.

Austrian Chancellor Nehammer is the chairman of the conservative People's Party, which represents the interests of business.