site.btaParliament Chair Zhelyazkov Tells Austrian Counterpart Sobotka that Sofia's Goal Is to Join Schengen for Land Travel "The Soonest Possible This Year"

Bulgaria's Parliament Chair Rosen Zhelyazkov Monday told Austria's National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka that a key goal for Sofia is to join Schengen for land travel "the soonest possible this year", said Parliament's press office. Zhelyazkov is in Vienna for the 9th Meeting of Presidents of Parliaments of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR).

Bulgaria and Romania have already secured a green light for entry in Schengen by air and sea, to become effective at the end of March. "We are confident that the lifting of land border controls for us will strengthen the EU's internal market and competitiveness and will boost EU security, especially in the context of the common threats we all face. It will also give an even stronger impetus to the economic relations between the two countries. Austrian business is definitely in favour of Bulgaria's full Schengen membership," Zhelyazkov said.

He said Bulgaria has taken decisive steps to strengthen controls at the EU's external borders, prevent secondary movements and combat migrant trafficking. Starting in 2024, the Customs Agency has tightened inspections at all Customs and border checkpoints, as well as across the country, of goods travelling to and from Austria. Zhelyazkov added that this is in line with the commitment for enhanced land border controls made by Bulgaria and Romania to Austria in an annex to the EU Council decision on the two countries' accession to the Schengen area.

Zhelyazkov thanked Vienna for supporting Bulgaria's efforts to join the euro area and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. He noted that Austria is an important political and economic partner to Bulgaria and that the two countries develop intensive dialogue and active cooperation. In 2024, they are marking the 145th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Austria is among the top foreign investors in Bulgaria, Rosen Zhelyazkov said. "We welcome the interest of Austrian businesses to expand their presence in Bulgaria in new technologies and innovations. We are interested in sharing experience in renewable energy, energy efficiency, digitization, new energy technologies, hydrogen, e-mobility, waste management and waste utilization, and the development of a circular economy," the Bulgarian Parliament leader said.