Although pressure from the EU and the opposition is increasing, the federal government continues to stand by its no to the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to Schengen. Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolaj Denkow also received a clear rejection during his visit to Vienna on Tuesday.
“Austria has a clear position that Schengen expansion cannot take place at this time,” Chancellor Karl Nehammer told journalists after his conversation with Denkow. Nehammer made it clear that bilateral border controls within the Schengen area must first be withdrawn before Austria will give the green light to Bulgaria and Romania. There is a need for better protection of the EU’s external borders, faster procedures and return agreements. At the same time, Nehammer emphasized that the Austrian position was “not a position against Bulgaria or Romania.”
Nehammer praises the protection of the EU’s external border
Instead, Nehammer praised Bulgaria’s efforts to protect the EU’s external border and highlighted that four Bulgarian border police officers had been “murdered” in the line of duty. In his speech, Denkow emphasized the “total agreement” between Bulgaria and Austria on the migration issue. The only difference is whether Schengen membership for Bulgaria and Romania would help in the fight against migration. The Bulgarian argument was that with Bulgaria and Romania in the Schengen area, one could act “much more effectively” against irregular migration.
Prime Minister: Bulgaria in Schengen area “would be better for Austrians”
Denkow had already set his expectations low before his visit. “We do not expect an answer from Austria today,” he said on Tuesday upon his departure from Sofia, according to the BTA news agency. The main purpose of the visit was to “explain to Austrian society and politicians that it would be better for Austrians if Bulgaria and Romania were part of the Schengen area,” Denkow said.
Last December, Austria opposed the entry of Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen area, citing the large number of irregular migrants on the Balkan route. Vienna wants to maintain this position as long as it believes that the protection of the EU’s external border is insufficient.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
