Bulgarians generally welcome their country’s accession to the Schengen Zone, indicating that the entire accession would be considered a significant success if the government addresses migration concerns in an effective way.
Such conclusions have been reached in the recent study conducted by Gallup International Balkan, conducted from January 11 to 19, in which a total of 807 persons participated.
Based on this study’s findings, a total of 30.3 per cent of participants believe that Sofia’s membership to Schengen by air and sea, starting from March 2024, will bring real benefits. However, 38,7 per cent believe that it will neither bring additional benefits nor harm the country, according to a report from Sofia News Agency, Novinite.
On the flip side, 14.5 per cent of respondents are concerned that Bulgaria’s partial accession to the borderless area of Schengen may harm them. Looking at the possibility of the entire Schengen entry, a total of 50.6 per cent of respondents expect real benefits, while 21 per cent expect neither benefit nor harm, and 13.7 per cent fear potential harm to the country from such a decision.
As for the possibility of accepting a larger number of refugees for the full Schengen entry, a total of 24.6 per cent of the respondents consider it more important for Sofia to become part of Schengen, even if it means accepting a larger number of refugees.
However, a total of 56.3 per cent give priority to avoiding more refugee acceptance, even if it hinders Schengen accession.
Besides, the study also suggests that while attitudes toward partial acceptance are mainly positive, the entire Schengen accession would be considered a significant achievement.
In addition, the recent finding from the Gallup International Balkan shows that attitudes toward the dismantling of the Soviet Army Monument in Sofia were polarised, with a total of 35.7 prioritising and 40.3 disagreeing.
Following the proposal of Austria called “Air Schengen”, Bulgaria and Romania will become part of the Schengen Area from March this year, by air and sea.
However, Vienna, which blocked the accession of these two countries to the Schengen Zone in December 2022 over irregular migration concerns, continues to maintain its veto when it comes to land border accession.
Recently, Austria’s Interior Minister, Gerhard Karner, said that his country continues to maintain its veto when it comes to the land border accession, considering the further expansion of the borderless area inappropriate at this stage.
However, Minister Karner said that the matter goes beyond these two countries, referring to the migration situation.
