Schengen Area

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated that "Bulgaria is ready to take its last steps for Schengen," adding that Hungary would continue to support Bulgaria and its citizens in their ongoing efforts.

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has expressed strong optimism that Romania will join the Schengen Area, including land borders, by the end of this year. This announcement comes after several previous challenges in the country's quest for full integration into the Schengen framework.

BRUSSELS - European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to use all their leverage, including trade, development aid and visa policy, to speed up returns of migrants illegally entering the bloc and asked the European Commission to urgently draft a law.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has urged Bulgaria and Romania to complete their journey toward full Schengen membership, emphasizing the importance of eliminating border checks between the two countries.

The Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union plans to include the topic of lifting land border checks for Bulgaria and Romania in the Schengen area on the agenda for the European interior ministers' meeting in December.

Acting Interior Minister Atanas Ilkov stated today in Luxembourg that Bulgaria has received substantial support for full Schengen membership during a meeting of the EU Council.

Austria remains unwilling to lift its veto on removing border controls for Bulgaria and Romania at land borders, as stated by Acting Interior Minister Gerhard Karner ahead of an EU interior ministers' meeting in Luxembourg. The meeting will review the progress of both countries' bids.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban emphasized the importance of securing full Schengen membership for Bulgaria and Romania during his address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. He described the complexities of Hungary's presidency of the EU Council, stating that it is characterized more by political considerations than by bureaucratic processes.

European Commissioner for Internal Affairs Ylva Johansson addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg, urging the abolition of land border controls for Bulgaria and Romania by the end of 2024. She emphasized that both countries had fulfilled all necessary requirements to join the Schengen area, highlighting the importance of free movement for EU citizens.

A source from the Hungarian EU presidency expressed optimism regarding the full acceptance of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen Area, reports BNR. "We firmly believe there is a possibility to achieve the full membership of Bulgaria and Romania in Schengen, and we will do everything we can to make this happen by the end of our presidency," the source stated.