Austria

The chairman of Bulgaria's Association of Industrial Capital, Vasil Velev, recently proposed a boycott of Austrian initiatives and businesses within Bulgaria due to Austria's stance against Bulgaria's Schengen entry through land borders. This call has sparked reactions across the nation, notably drawing a response from GERB leader Boyko Borissov.

The Austrian Chamber of Commerce, serving as the overseas business representative, has greeted the partial Schengen agreement positively, hailing it as a promising development. Philip Kupfer, the trade advisor at the Austrian embassy, expressed enthusiasm for the move, highlighting the significance of meeting pertinent conditions for a robust domestic market within Europe.

Vasil Velev, Chairman of the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria, expressed discontent over Bulgaria's limited acceptance into the Schengen area, highlighting the missed economic opportunities estimated at over 1 billion annually.

Romania's Schengen accession on March 31 brings about notable changes at Bucharest's Henri Coanda International Airport as Austrian officers will collaborate with Romanian counterparts in passport and document scrutiny. The collaboration aims to enhance border security and streamline identity verification processes for travelers entering the Schengen zone.

The Customs Agency of Bulgaria has intensified scrutiny on all goods entering and exiting Austria, implemented across checkpoints and territory, aligning with the country's commitment to Austria and Schengen entry obligations.

In Bulgaria, only 2% of last year's asylum applications in the EU were recorded, based on recent data from the European Agency for Asylum and Migration. The report, unveiled on December 14, highlights that Bulgaria received a total of 3,028 applications, while Germany, France, and Italy were the top recipients.

Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov from Bulgaria's Border Police addressed recent developments regarding Bulgaria's Schengen entry and the evolving migrant situation in Europe.

The Council of the European Union's decision to welcome Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen zone by air and water starting March 31, 2024, has been formally published in the Official Journal of the EU. This momentous announcement marks a significant milestone for both nations, signifying their long-awaited accession into the Schengen community.

Razvan Nicolescu, a Romanian analyst, expressed strong criticism against Austria's government, accusing it of adopting anti-European behaviors during discussions about Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen area accession. In an interview with Bulgaria's National Radio (BNR), Nicolescu highlighted concerns about Austria's conditions that deviate from Schengen criteria.

Mariana Tosheva, the head of the State Agency for Refugees, has urged an increase in reception center capacity amid escalating EU migration. Tosheva highlighted the urgency to expand the existing capacity from 3,600 to 5,000 places in response to the mounting influx of migrants.