Multi-speed Europe

Ivan Anchev, co-chair of the Atlantic Council in Bulgaria, and Filip Gunev, former Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, shared their views on Bulgaria's path to full Schengen membership during an interview on NOVA NEWS.

Bulgaria will independently determine the locations and methods of border control with Romania following its Schengen entry by land, according to diplomatic sources in Brussels shared with BNR.

Following Bulgaria's entry into the Schengen area's land borders, border checkpoints will remain operational, but movement across borders will become more streamlined, according to the Ministry of Interior.

Bulgaria is on track to meet the final requirement for eurozone membership, with expectations to fulfill the price stability criterion by the end of 2024.

Bulgaria and Romania are set to enter the Schengen Area, but border controls at their land borders will remain in place for at least six months following their accession. This agreement was finalized today in Budapest, where the interior ministers of Bulgaria, Romania, Austria, and Hungary signed a joint declaration, as reported by the Hungarian rotating presidency of the EU Council.

Romania and Bulgaria may become full members of Europe's borderless Schengen travel zone in January 2025, Hungary said on Friday, adding a final decision would be made at next month's meeting of EU interior ministers.

Hungary's Interior Minister, Sandor Pinter, announced that Romania and Bulgaria have a chance to fully join the Schengen area starting in January 2025. His statement came after an informal meeting in Budapest involving the interior ministers of Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, and Austria.

Former Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky expressed optimism about Bulgaria's prospects for Schengen entry by land. Speaking to bTV, she stated that there are genuine reasons for hope and anticipation of a positive outcome. "People are tired of waiting for Schengen admission, but I think we now have real hopes," Neynsky said.

The European Parliament plans to renew its call for the full accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area during its upcoming session in Strasbourg, according to an official announcement. The discussion, scheduled for November 26, will include representatives from the European Commission.

The Netherlands may still pose a challenge to Bulgaria and Romania's full accession to the Schengen zone, according to a report in the Financial Times.