Jakarta –
Croatia will officially join the Schengen area in early 2023. The European Union (EU) confirmed Croatia’s accession on Thursday (08/12), followed by a vote on whether to accept by the EU of other countries.
“The Schengen area is expanding for the first time in more than a decade,” the Czech Republic, the current president of the European Union, said on Twitter. “Ministers approve accession of Croatia from 1 January 2023!”
Ministers from the 27 EU member states have voted to expand the Schengen visa-free zone, with three proposed members: Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia.
Croatian MP Valter Flego welcomed the vote in a post on his Twitter account.
Austria Boccia Romania, Bulgaria
However, Romania and Bulgaria’s chances of becoming members of the Schengen zone, which includes most EU countries plus Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland, were dashed after opposition from Austria.
On the other hand, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock really wants Romania and Bulgaria to join the Schengen area, but unfortunately Austria still has objections.
“Not only Croatia, but especially Romania and also Bulgaria have done a lot to make them worthy of joining the Schengen zone,” said Baerbock. “Even the EU Commission confirmed it a few weeks ago”.
“Especially in these times it is important that Europe draws closer. I appeal in particular to Austria to reconsider its voice of ‘objection’ for Romania and Bulgaria”.
But it seems that this call has not been accepted by Vienna. “I will vote today against the expansion of Schengen in Romania and Bulgaria,” said Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner on Thursday (08/12) ahead of the vote. “I think it’s wrong if a system that doesn’t work in many places has to be expanded.”
Decisions concerning the enlargement of the Schengen area must require the unanimous approval of each member state.
“When it comes to the accession of Romania and Bulgaria, we are not unanimous and that leaves us very weak and I too feel disappointed,” Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson told reporters after the announcement of the decision to deny the accession of Bulgaria and Romania.
“You deserve to be a Schengen member, you deserve to have free access to move around the Schengen area,” said Johansson. You also added that the two countries had the full support of almost all the ministers present.
“To Bulgarians and Romanians: you deserve to be part of the Schengen area,” Johansson tweeted. “I will support any step to achieve it, that’s my mandate.”
Romania summons the Austrian ambassador
Romania’s foreign ministry said late Thursday that it had summoned the Austrian ambassador because of “Vienna’s unjustified and hostile attitude”.
“The Foreign Ministry considers this result to be completely unfair and without any objective justification,” Romania’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The Romanian Foreign Ministry also added that it regrets the impact that “Austria’s negative vote had today on European unity and ties. Especially in the current rather complicated geostrategic context, as well as Russia’s persistent attempts to break European unity”.
Europe is divided at the borders
Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union bloc in 2007 and have been trying to join the Schengen area for years.
Concerns about organized crime, illegal immigration and security threats are factors hindering the two countries’ participation. Last month, the European Commission ruled that the three current Schengen candidates meet the necessary criteria to join, which the European Parliament also voted in favour.
“We are stronger, not weaker, with the expansion of the Schengen area,” said Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas on Thursday (08/12). “Expanding the Schengen area means more and better scrutiny, not less.”
Why are some EU members against expanding Schengen?
The threat of illegal immigration has been a sticking point for Austria, which previously recorded more than 100,000 illegal arrivals this year.
Austria does not believe in the Romanian and Bulgarian border screening system and argues that removing checks on people arriving from those countries would open up more illegal immigration from the two countries.
Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said on Wednesday that he had held a high-level meeting with Austrian leaders to try to allay their concerns.
“Illegal immigration is politically sensitive in many member states, but opposing Romania’s entry into Schengen will not get Austria the answers it wants,” Ciuca said.
The Netherlands, Hungary and Sweden have also indicated their intention to delay the entry of one or more of the candidate countries wishing to join the Schengen area.
kp/hp (AP, AFP)
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