Austria

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer has publicly called on the EU to finance the construction of a 2 billion euro fence along the Bulgarian-Turkish border, where more and more migrants are crossing into the EU. The proposal was repeated by the Austrian permanent representative during the meeting of EU ambassadors on Wednesday.

The FBI headquarters in Washington DC. Photo: EPA-EFE/JIM LO SCALZO

Applying the classification to the nine ports in the Balkans [see below], criminal networks lead the way with a presence in five of the nine: Koper in Slovenia, Rijeka and Ploce in Croatia, Varna in Bulgaria and Constanta in Romania. Mafia-style groups are active in Bar and Albania's Durres. Foreign actors are busy in Greek ports in Athens and Thessaloniki.

There is no change in Austria's position on the enlargement of the Schengen area. This became clear after the visit of Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer to the Bulgarian-Turkish border near Elhovo.

Austria will support Bulgaria's request for 2 billion, in front of the European Commission, to strengthen the security of our border.

There is no change in Austria's position on Bulgaria's accession to Schengen, the Austrian Chancellor announced before his visit to Bulgaria.

Karl Nehammer and Minister of the Interior Gerhard Karner arrive in Bulgaria today. They have a meeting with President Rumen Radev, with whom they will visit the Bulgarian-Turkish border together.

Schools in Türkiye will start a two-week half-year term break on Jan. 20, with students and families eagerly awaiting the chance for travel and tourism professionals expecting a good inflow of tourists this year.

Cultural tours, thermal facilities and Turkish Cyprus are among the most popular routes for holidaymakers at a time when ski resorts lack snow globally.

Signs are growing that Greece is strengthening its position among the world's leading tourism destinations, as traditional markets such as Britain and Austria are showing high demand for this country once again this year.

Austrian investors still feel Slovenia offers good investment opportunities despite persistent issues such as red tape, high taxes, and shortage of skilled workers, shows a survey by Advantage Austria Ljubljana among Austrian-owned companies in the country.

An international drug cartel that has been active mainly in Slovenia and Austria, but also in Italy and further afield, has been dismantled by the Slovenian police in cooperation with the Austrian law enforcement authorities.

"We support the membership of Bulgaria and Romania in Schengen, because the Balkan countries play a very important role for us," Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, told the plenary hall of the European Parliament.