Austria may soon allow Bulgaria into Schengen ᐉ News from Fakti.bg – World

The European Commissioner for Migration, Magnus Bruner (from the Austrian People’s Party), has already announced that he supports the full membership of Bulgaria and Romania in Schengen. As a member of the government in Austria, Brunner has so far followed the official line of opposition against full Schengen membership in both countries. The “Kleine Zeitung” based in Vienna recalls that Austria has been blocking entry into Bulgaria for two years now with the argument that the country does not protect its border. -out of the EU well and allowing a large number of illegal migrants to Austria.

But this restriction may soon be lifted, the publication also writes, stating that a meeting of the interior ministers of Austria, Romania and Bulgaria is coming up on November 22, where will the topic of Bulgaria’s Schengen membership be discussed. In addition, parallel negotiations are underway with Bulgaria and Romania, reports the publication.

Karner: The veto was right and it still is right

“We are on the right track, but we have not yet reached its limit,” Austrian Interior Minister Karner said before the meeting, as reported by Kleine Zeitung. According to him, the veto that has been applied so far is correct. But in the meantime some positive changes have taken place. Karner also says that “effective protection from external borders” is still important, as well as controls internal borders where necessary.The November 22 meeting in Budapest should be about a “clear common package” of measures.

Bulgaria and Romania’s partial accession to Schengen years ago was also linked to such a package, notes the Viennese edition. He recalls that after the two affected countries and several other EU members expressed their dismay at the Vienna veto, Karner gave the green light at least for Schengen by air, and from April year it has been in effect.

But Vienna’s concession was not unconditional and was attached to requirements: together with the increase in European funds for border protection in both countries, not less, but more border checks were requested between Romania and Bulgaria as well as between the Hungary and Romania. Statistics from the Austrian Ministry of the Interior were also cited, according to which a significant decrease in attempts to cross the Austrian border illegally was registered: 840 cases in September am- year. against 5,061 for the same month in 2023 and 12,716 in September 2022.

Good data from Bulgaria and Romania

“Kleine Zeitung” cites more data: migration in the Balkans has decreased by 62 percent, and not only Austria reports a decrease in illegal entry attempts – in Bulgaria there is the reduction by 46 percent, in Romania by ten. The number of asylum requests in both countries has also dropped significantly, the Vienna edition also writes. In Bulgaria, the drop is 43 percent, and in Romania up to 74 percent. In addition, there is a trend regarding the Dublin Agreement: asylum seekers in Austria, who were previously registered on the territory of Bulgaria or Romania. will be accepted at the same time without adjustment back.

It is possible to enter as early as December 12

In the context of these numbers, a change in Vienna’s veto can be expected, Kleine Zeitung predicts. The barrier could be lifted entirely, but this would probably come with requirements as well. From there, everything can happen without delay – a full agreement (with or without conditions) can already be a reality at the next meeting of ministers within the EU on December 12.

Editor Bilyana Mihailova of charge