PM Denkov to Austrian Chancellor Nehammer: If Bulgaria and Romania are in Schengen, we will support the processes in Europe more effectively

"If we have a difference with Austria it is only in one thing - whether Bulgaria and Romania inside Schengen would help to find these solutions faster or if we are outside we could help them in some way. I am convinced, and I have explained it with logical arguments, that if Bulgaria and Romania were inside Schengen, we would be able to support the processes that we want to happen in Europe much more effectively - we would free up human and material resources to better protect external borders, we would reduce the cost of transporting food and other goods from Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania to Central, Eastern and Western Europe. This means lower inflation and better political stability in all countries in Eastern and Central Europe. If we are outside, we gain nothing, but lose," Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov said in a joint statement with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer.

In his view, time is needed to listen to these arguments and think.

"For us, however, it is unthinkable at the moment to extend Schengen. I say that this has nothing to do with Bulgaria and Romania. This is a security issue because we have very big challenges in the Schengen area. 11 countries have internal border controls, and although Austria is a landlocked country, there are controls on the Austrian-German border," Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said.

He clarified that more and more countries are introducing border controls.

"Italy bilaterally, which means that the Schengen system does not currently meet its true meaning. Schengen means no internal borders, this would mean that it would function in the future, that there would be a good and secure external border, at the moment this is not the case, however, the European Union knows very well that Bulgaria and Romania contribute a lot to the security of Schengen and the European Commission has finally decided to support Romania and Bulgaria with more financial resources, but this is not enough," Nehammer stressed.

"We all need to work together at European level to solve these problems. And in December, when we meet again at the European Council, we should be prepared to take the decisions that would be most beneficial for Austria, Bulgaria and the European Union," Denkov added.

In his words, each country has its own positions.

"We need to talk and say our arguments. Bulgaria and Austria have many common positions. We have no differences that the external borders should be strengthened, the treaties with the third countries from which the migrants come should be strengthened, a system for legal migration should be established," Denkov added.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister explained that the importance of this problem should not be ignored.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister was greeted with military honours at the "Bauhaus" Square in front of the Federal Chancellery in Vienna.

Images by Alexander Markov