Schengen expansion: Bulgaria and Romania finally!

Schengen expansion: Bulgaria and Romania finally!

A historical step for Bulgaria and Romania: The EU opens the gates to the Schengen zone!

The European Union has decided: Bulgaria and Romania can finally enter the limitless Schengen zone from next year! After a long fight of 13 years, this breakthrough was possible after Austria dropped its veto. One reason for joy for the two countries that are now being included in the exclusive club of the Schengen countries as full members.

The Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter, who currently holds the rotating EU presidency, described this moment as "historical". At a ministerial meeting on Thursday, the decision was celebrated, which will make the trip a lot easier for millions of people.

Austria raises the veto to

Austria had previously expressed concerns about the illegal immigration and used his veto against the admission of the two countries. But after the signing of a "border protection package" in Budapest, which provides for the joint provision of border protection officials on the Bulgarian-Turkish border, there was finally the green light. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said that the measures to combat illegal immigration had already led to a decline in the number of migrants near the Austrian border.

"Without our veto, this decline would not have been possible," said Karner. Compared to the previous year, the number of migrants intercepted fell from 70,000 to only 4,000 this year. A clear success for the Austrian government!

a necessary step for Romania

Romania's President Klaus Iohannis described the accession to the Schengen zone as a "natural and necessary step". He emphasized that this will not only shorten the waiting times at the borders, but also reduce the logistical costs for companies and make the country more attractive for foreign investors. "Schengen membership was a strategic goal for our country," said Iohannis.

As early as March, Bulgaria and Romania received a partial admission to the Schengen zone, but the land borders remained restricted. With full membership, a new era of travel and trade is now heralded!

The Schengen zone, which was launched in 1985, now comprises 29 members, including 25 of the 27 EU countries and Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Over 400 million people can now travel without internal border controls - a truly historical moment for Europe!

While the Schengen zone is expanding, surveys in Great Britain show that 54 percent of Brexit voters are dissatisfied with their decision and that a return to the free movement in the EU is considered. Another sign that European cooperation remains of crucial importance!