site.btaPrime Minister Zhelyazkov Invites Austrian Chancellor Stocker to Personally Check Quality of Security at EU External Border

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov met Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker in Tirana, the Council of Ministers reported on its official Facebook page on Friday. Zhelyazkov extended an invitation to Chancellor Stocker to visit Bulgaria and personally see for himself the quality of security this country provides at the EU border, the government information service said.

During the talks, Prime Minister Zhelyazkov expressed gratitude for Austria's support for Bulgaria's accession to Schengen and stressed that the country strictly fulfils its commitments to guard the EU's external borders.

In November 2024, Austria agreed to lift its long-held veto on the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen, and on January 1, 2025, the two states became full members after the checks on persons at the internal land borders were lifted. The internal air and sea border controls between Bulgaria and Romania and the countries of the Schengen area were already lifted in March 2024.

The two officials discussed the prospects for expanding mutual investments, as well as strengthening cooperation in education, science, and artificial intelligence. "Austria is a strategic partner for Bulgaria. I believe that when we act side by side, we will not only better protect Europe's borders but also build a stronger and more competitive European economy," Prime Minister Zhelyazkov was quoted as saying in the statement.

Earlier on Friday, Zhelyazkov arrived in Tirana for the Sixth European Political Community Summit.