In the Schengen debate on Romania and Bulgaria, Minister of the Interior Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) emphasizes Austria’s previous veto position regarding full accession. Karner said this on Monday during a media event in Innsbruck.
At the same time, the minister referred to the agreement that had already been reached on the lifting of controls at sea and in the air, also known as ‘Air and Sea Schengen’.
“I am strongly thinking of taking this step now and not philosophizing about the next one,” Karner said, referring to a unanimous EU decision and further tempering expectations of full accession.
“Clear terms” for Karner
The compromise was reached after “tough negotiations” and provided “clear conditions,” the Interior Minister emphasized. This means securing the land border and making additional police officers and Frontex resources available at the external border. In addition, asylum seekers from Austria who were previously registered in Romania and Bulgaria must be returned to the relevant countries.
The ‘Air Schengen’ agreement means that travelers from Romania and Bulgaria no longer have to fly to other EU countries via international terminals. However, land border controls remain in place. Air and sea border controls are to be lifted by March 2024. It said discussions on lifting land controls would continue this year.
Austria is internationally isolated
As the “Kurier” (Monday edition) reported, pressure is increasing on Austria to agree to the admission of the two countries to the Schengen area. The only EU country that still consistently stands in the way of this step is Austria.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was also convinced that Romania and Bulgaria will soon be full members of the Schengen area: “You can count on us to convince Austria that they deserve to be fully part of Schengen von der Leyen,” he said after a special summit in Brussels in early February.
Source: Krone
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