Austria Upholds Schengen Land Border Veto for Bulgaria and Romania |

Austria Upholds Schengen Land Border Veto for Bulgaria and Romania

Austria continues to maintain its veto on the inclusion of Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen area with land borders, as declared by Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, as reported by Krónika.

Although the “Air Schengen” proposal has granted Bulgaria and Romania partial accession to the Schengen Zone from March this year, land border accession may not happen any time soon.

The veto, initially imposed in December 2022, is rooted in Austria's insistence on fortifying the European Union's external borders and instigating systemic reforms.

The rationale behind this decision is underscored by the revelation that over 100,000 illegal migrants entered Austria within a year, traversing through EU member states where their progression should have been impeded.

In an interview, Gerhard Karner emphasised that the dire state of the migration system extends beyond Romania and Bulgaria, characterising it as catastrophic. He stressed the paramount importance of securing the EU's external borders, aligning with the objectives outlined in the EU's new asylum and migration pact.

Do you think Bulgaria and Romania will be able to fully join in the Schengen Zone this year? Talk to us in the comment section below. Or if you need more advice on the above, contact us for further travel & immigration advice.

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