site.btaInterior Minister Remains Optimistic about Decision for Bulgaria’s Schengen Entry in 2023

Bulgarian Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov Tuesday expressed optimism that a positive decision on Bulgaria's accession to Schengen is still possible by the end of the year. "I am optimistic, but it would have been unrealistic to expect today any decision on Bulgaria's accession to Schengen," he said after a meeting of the EU interior ministers - the last for the year - in Brussels.

"It needs to be said clearly that in the coming days and weeks there will be very active talks on whether Bulgaria will be admitted to Schengen. We are making a huge effort," Stoyanov said. He added that "a change in the positions of Vienna and The Hague can definitely be expected" by the end of the year because of the European Commission's report after another inspection of the Bulgarian borders. EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson briefed the interior ministers on the very positive report from the October 23-24 mission to Bulgaria and the inspection of the external borders, the minister explained, specifying that Austrian and Dutch representatives participated in the inspection this time. The conclusion of the report is that Bulgaria continues to meet all the conditions for Schengen accession, Stoyanov said.

In his words, the recent elections in the Netherlands "slightly change the situation". He did not rule out the possibility for an extraordinary meeting of the EU Council on Schengen enlargement to be held by the end of the year, but specified that a decision could be adopted in other formats as well. "There are many indications that we are on the right track," Stoyanov said and expressed hope that the issue would not be left for the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council, beginning January 1.