Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Velislava Petrova was on a working visit in Vienna, Austria on 16 February. The Bulgarian Deputy Minister held meetings at the Federal Chancellery with the Austrian Minister for Europe and the Constitution Karoline Edtstadler and with Barbara Kaudel-Jensen, Foreign Policy Adviser to the Federal Chancellor.
Among the topics discussed were the next steps after the extraordinary European Council of 9-10 February this year on the migration issue, as well as the prospects for Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen by the end of 2023. The constructive cooperation between the two countries was confirmed, as well as the need to find a common European solution to tackle migration.
Deputy Minister Petrova also discussed the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries with Johannes Eigner, Special Coordinator for the Western Balkans at the Federal Foreign Office. Velislava Petrova reaffirmed Bulgaria’s position in support of the integration of the countries of the region on their own merits and in adherence to the established criteria and fundamental European values.
