Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen by telephone on Sunday, Radev’s press service reports, BTA reports.

At the center of the discussions was Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen zone, as well as measures to accelerate the completion of the process. President Radev expressed hope that Bulgaria’s achievements will be recognized by all EU partners and that Bulgaria will join Schengen in 2023. This topic will be discussed at the upcoming meeting of the European Council in Brussels this month.

On December 8, the EU Council considered and voted on two proposals to expand the Schengen area, rejecting Bulgaria and Romania, but approving Croatia’s entry.

We will remind you that Romania, which waited 11 years to join Schengen, did not join the European free movement zone this time, although it had the support of 26 EU countries.

Austria managed to block a favorable decision in the JAI Council on Thursday, as Schengen entry requires unanimity. It was joined by the Netherlands on the condition that they oppose the accession of Bulgaria, and the vote was cast “together with Romania”.

Judith Kolenberger, an expert on migration, Die Presse notes, says the fact that “Austria blames Romania and Bulgaria, but not Hungary or Croatia, is irrational and hypocritical.”

“From a purely geographical point of view, Bulgaria is not a relevant route for visa-free travelers to Serbia. And only three percent of all asylum seekers from Austria go through Romania.