Austria cancels its veto on the full accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area of ​​free movement in Europe

 

 

While air and sea border checks between Romania, Bulgaria and the other 27 countries in the Schengen area were abolished, negotiations with Austria on land entry continued until 2024.

"We can take the next step in the EU Council. After Schengen Air, Schengen Land is now open to Romania and Bulgaria," Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said, adding that Austria's demands to combat illegal immigration had led to a reduction in the number of migrants intercepted near the Austrian border with Hungary.

He emphasized that without this veto, the massive reduction of illegal border crossings would not have happened. According to him, in the year to October last year, 70,000 interceptions and 4 thousand for the same period this year.