site.btaUPDATED PM Denkov: Stronger Border Control Imposed by Sofia Is a Win for Both Bulgaria and Europe

The stronger border control that Sofia managed to impose is a win for both Bulgaria and Europe, Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said in a televised interview broadcast on bTV on Sunday. In his words, the last months have seen a drop in half in the number of attempts to illegally cross the Bulgarian border, and the difference can be seen by everyone.

The negotiations on Schengen continue, the Prime Minister also said. Austria's position on the matter is not the end resultl the negotiations will continue in the coming days and weeks, he underscored.

Earlier on Sunday, Austrian media reported that the Austrian Minister of the Interior Gerhard Karner is ready to loosen the veto on the enlargement of the Schengen area to Bulgaria and Romania. The announcement, published in Sunday's edition of the Kurier, in Saturday night's electronic edition of the Kleine Zeitung, and cited by the Austria Press Agency (APA), said that according to reports received from government circles, the borders could be abolished, at least for air traffic. Land borders will retain their current status, with Bulgaria and Romania not being members of Schengen.

Asked if there has been a migrants-in-exchange-for-Schengen deal, Denkov said: "We have never discussed [things] in this manner and if such has been defined, it is unacceptable." In his words, what is acceptable is for Bulgaria to observe the common EU rules. It is absolutely unacceptable to introduce additional rules for Bulgaria or for Bulgaria and Romania.

"Regarding border control, we are open [to checks]- there are Frontex officials there now, we are working with Austrian and Dutch services, so there is nothing that worries us," he noted. "Regarding the admission of migrants, there are European rules and we will work in compliance with them," he added.