site.btaUPDATED President Radev Expects Netherlands to Declare Full Support for Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen Entry in Nearest Future

Bulgaria's President Rumen Radev Thursday said he expected the Netherlands to declare full support for Bulgaria and Romania's entry in the border-free Schengen area in the nearest future. He took a question after meeting with his Albanian counterpart Bajram Begaj.

Radev said Bulgaria could join Schengen by land, air and sea by the year's end if Sofia made efforts in a few more directions.

Bulgaria met all conditions for joining Schengen back in 2011, Radev said. It is difficult to change the fact that some countries are solving their domestic problems. "We should do our best to have those barriers lifted," Radev said.

"In my numerous conversations with Prime Minister Mark Rutte, I was assured that as soon as the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) is ended, the Netherlands will fully support Bulgaria's Schengen membership without any restrictions," Radev said, adding that he was confident Rutte would keep his word.

On September 15, 2023, the European Commission announced that it formally closes the CVM for Bulgaria and Romania. The CVM was introduced at the two countries' EU accession in 2007 as a transitional measure to facilitate progress in the fields of judicial reform and anti-corruption, as well as on organized crime for Bulgaria.

Regarding Austria's veto on Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen entry, Radev said it was a matter of convincing not only the political leadership but also the Austrian public that this is a necessary step. He said confidence in the security of the Bulgarian borders had emerged as the deal-breaker in conversations with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor Karl Nehammer. Radev recalled the Bulgarian initiative to set up a task force, an intelligence centre, as a basis for joint coordinated operations breaking up migrant trafficking centres.

Radev said that what has started on a conceptual basis should be completed, adding that this is also important for Austria.