Austria raises blockade: Schengen accession for Bulgaria and Romania near

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Österreichs Blockade ist vorbei: Bulgarien und Rumänien stehen kurz vor dem Schengen-Beitritt. Am 12. Dezember könnte die endgültige Zustimmung erteilt werden. Ein wichtiger Schritt zur europäischen Integration!
Austria's blockade is over: Bulgaria and Romania are about to join Schengen. The final approval could be granted on December 12th. An important step towards European integration! (Symbolbild/DNAT)

The situation of the smoldering membership of Bulgaria and Romania in the Schengen area recently turned to a decisive factor. After the accession of the two countries has been blocked through Austria for months, there is now light at the end of the tunnel. The decision to give up the blockage was decided by the EU ambassadors in Brussels on Wednesday and means that preparations for the cancellation of border controls should be completed at the latest on January 1, 2025. This step is regarded as a significant progress in the direction of complete integration of both states in the Schengen zone.

Magnet for discussions was Austria's domestic stance, which met with criticism from outside. After the announcement of Magnus Brunner, the new EU Commissioner for Migration, that both Bulgaria and Romania meet the basic criteria for the Schengen accession, the rejection, which has been unaffected for a long time, seemed to be crumbling for a long time. Brunner emphasized that with the exception of Austria, the remaining EU countries are striving for an agreement on this matter. This laid the foundation for the impending vote in the next meeting of the Interior Minister of the EU countries on December 12th.

progress and next steps

The recent progress is remarkable. Last Friday, the Interior Minister of Austria, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary met in Budapest to discuss a new border protection package. This package is considered an indispensable element for the Schengen accession of the two Balkan countries. The Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner expressed himself optimistic and described the upcoming decisions as a necessary step towards integration. The decisive moment is expected on December 12th, with observers expecting all members. Such a result would be another door opener for the long overdue integration.

It is worth noting that Bulgaria and Romania have been part of the "Air Schengen" system since March 2024, which means that no controls are carried out on air and sea limits. This shows that the two countries already harmonize in parts with the Schengen rules, which makes their complete membership appear all the more logical. The latest developments indicate that the vote on December 12 could not only be a matter of form, but also a festive confirmation of the efforts that have been made in recent years.

The positive expectation that was expressed by the Council of EU ambassadors is a turning point in the discussion that was shaped by concerns about security and migrant flows for a long time. These uncertainties now seemed to be cleared, and the prerequisites for the abolition of the border controls at the land borders are on the best way to become reality. The complete membership of both countries in the Schengen area could soon become a reality, and at the latest from January 1, 2025, as is emphasized by the official votes.

Overall, this development shows the pursuit of closer European cooperation and the will to overcome existing tensions. The later coordination in the Interior Minister Council plays a crucial role, which may open the doors for future extensions. After all, the next few weeks could represent the final victory for Bulgaria and Romania in the fight for Schengen membership, and we will all wait for how everything will develop.