Austria raises Veto: Schengen accession for Bulgaria and Romania is coming!

Austria raises Veto: Schengen accession for Bulgaria and Romania is coming!

Today, the Austrian Ministry of the Interior has confirmed that the blockade against the accession of Bulgaria and Romania is abandoned to the Schengen area. "We won't be crossed," said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) and announced that he would vote for the expansion on Thursday, December 12, 2024. This marks a significant step in the negotiations, which were made more difficult by Austria's resistance for months. Karner announced that according to the so-called "Schengen Air", "Schengen Land" is now open to the two Balkan countries when it comes to the preparations for accession to the Schengen zone, which are supposed to begin in January 2025, such as Today. reported.

step into the Schengen future

As early as December 30, 2023, the EU member states made the decision that Romania and Bulgaria can join the Schengen area. The first steps to lift the controls of air and sea limits are planned for March 2024. The talks about the further decisions on land limits will continue in the coming year. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recognized the decision as a historical moment, which means a lot of Bulgaria and Romania. Their hard efforts to meet the necessary prerequisites for accession were recognized by the EU, which strengthens the positive perspective for the Schengen area and intensified cooperation within the EU. These developments were explained in detail in a statement by the EU Commission, including by Europa.eu.