Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen approves the membership of Bulgaria and Romania in Schengen, unlike the country’s government. He stated this in response to a question from BTA.
“You know that my opinion differs from that of the government, which imposed a veto, and despite the recommendation of the European Commission to accept Bulgaria and Romania, it does not back down. And it justifies its decision with the migrants who arrive in Austriabut they come not from Bulgaria and Romania, but from Hungary. I think that the government should better protect its investment interests and not only in the financial sector. Austria is an investor in both countries. Let me add that tens of thousands of caregivers from Romania work in our country, taking care of elderly and sick people around the clock.”
Bulgaria has fulfilled all the criteria for Schengen membership. Vice President Iliana Yotova stated this before representatives of nearly 40 Austrian companies who are visiting our country.
She pointed out that our country is aware of political decisions.
However, in the name of common European solidarity, especially in a period of severe crises, Bulgaria’s place was in Schengen.
Yotova assured that Bulgaria is a stable, safe country with serious prospects.
Yotova convinced the Austrian delegation that Bulgaria’s place is in Schengen and the Eurozone
Bulgaria is a stable, safe country with serious prospects
We remind you that on December 8, 2022, Austria and the Netherlands blocked the admission of Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen and gave the green light only to Croatia due to fears of an influx of illegal migrants.
Last month, Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner spoke out against expanding the Schengen area. According to him, Bulgaria still has a lot of work to do for its accession.
His position was also confirmed by Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who considers Schengen expansion unthinkable at the moment.
According to the Austrian government, Bulgaria and Romania cannot effectively control their borders, which would become the external borders of the European Union after their admission to the visa-free zone.
Romania is losing patience for the common application with Bulgaria for Schengen
The Romanian Prime Minister wants his country to separate from Bulgaria as early as December
Romania is considering separating its application to join the boundless Schengen area of the European Union from that of Bulgariathe Prime Minister of the country, Marcel Cholaku, revealed a day earlier.
The Romanian Prime Minister commented that “Bucharest can consider the separation of its Schengen application from the efforts of Bulgaria, if negotiations lead to a better outcome“.
Cholaku also said he would ask the Spanish government, which currently holds the EU’s six-month rotating presidency, to hold an extraordinary meeting of the EU Council on Justice and Home Affairs (PVR) in December to review Romania’s bid for Schengen.
The meeting will take place after the elections in the Netherlands on November 22, when the political accounts may change. Since the beginning of October, Bulgaria has expressed concerns that Bucharest may want to be separated from Sofia for Schengen membership.
However, the possible separation from Bulgaria is complicated from a legal point of view. Decisions are taken unanimously in the Justice and Home Affairs Council, so even Romania’s plan to avoid Austria’s veto risks Bulgaria’s veto if secession is not negotiated well.
Restored
The Netherlands is waiting for the EC to say honestly whether Bulgaria is ready for Schengen
Mark Rutte expects the Commission’s opinion in December
2023-11-09 21:55:37
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