Interior Minister Gerhard Karner met his Romanian counterpart Cătălin Predoiu on Monday morning for a working meeting in Vienna. According to reports, preparations were being made for a “decisive talk” on Friday, to which the Hungarian presidency of the EU Council is inviting.
The main topics were the protection of the EU’s external borders and the fight against organized smuggling crime. These topics will also be discussed during the working meeting of the interior ministers of Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and Austria on Friday in Budapest. From the Austrian perspective, the aim here is “to develop a common package and take further measures after Romania and Bulgaria join ‘Schengen Air’”. According to his own statements, Predoiu expects “the decisive conversation” in Budapest.
Romania expects full membership by Easter
The decision on Romania’s accession to the border-free Schengen area will then be taken on December 12. However, barriers at Romanian border controls are unlikely to be lifted until a few months later, as the appropriate software programs will need to be implemented by then. He “strongly expects Romania to become a full Schengen member by Easter 2025,” Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said recently. The course for this would be set during the informal meeting on November 22 in Budapest.
Karner: “Robust measures have an impact”
Karner said on Monday: “The robust measures against the smuggling mafia have had an effect; we have greatly reduced illegal migration. We are on the right track, but we are not at the end of this road yet.” That is why we must not give up now and continue to take joint measures.
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.
