The fact that an agreement was not reached /regarding the membership of Bulgaria and Romania in Schengen, note ed./, was a European and geopolitical mistake, German Foreign Minister Analena Berbock told Digi 24, quoted by the Romania Journal.

According to the minister, the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen will follow, although the failure in the Council of the EU is "a big disappointment".

Radev: Bulgaria will definitely join Schengen next year

Romania and Bulgaria have done a lot to prepare for joining the Schengen area.

Romania in particular has made great efforts and meets all the requirements.

It is therefore a great disappointment that accession has not now taken place.

Until the last moment, we fought for a different decision," said Berbock.

Olaf Scholz: We will work for the entry of Bulgaria and Romania into Schengen

"Even this year it was not possible: the Council did not say 'no', it simply has not yet said 'yes'."

I am convinced that accession to Schengen will follow.

For this purpose, it is important that this issue is quickly returned to the agenda of the EU," said Analena Berbok.

Mark Rutte set two conditions for Bulgaria to admit it to Schengen

As the end of 2022 approaches, the Austrian authorities have registered a significant decrease in the number of asylum applications.

From the beginning of the year to November, they exceeded 100,000 cases, Austria's interior ministry said on Monday.