There is still no categorical position of Austria on Bulgaria in Schengen, said Minister of Interior Atanas Ilkov in Luxembourg

The caretaker Minister of the Interior, Atanas Ilkov, said on October 10 that there is still no categorical position of Austria on the accession of Bulgaria to Schengen in terms of land borders. Ilkov participated today in Luxembourg in the meeting of the EU Ministers of Interior, where the topic of the two countries' accession to the free movement area is discussed.

Austria is the only country in the EU that is still blocking the admission of both countries to Schengen in terms of land borders.

Ilkov said that during the Council he received very strong support for full Schengen membership. Earlier today, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, said she hoped there would be a final decision on the abolition of checks at the land borders of Bulgaria and Romania by the end of her term in office, which expires at the end of November.

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Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union's (EU) passport-free Schengen Zone for air and sea travel on 31 March 2024.