Austria’s Interior Minister, Gerhard Karner, reiterated that his country remains opposed to the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Zone. He argues that the focus should be on strengthening the existing borderless area (“better, not bigger”) before considering expansion.
While the issue was discussed at the recent EU Interior Ministers meeting, a vote on their accession was not scheduled. Karner also stressed the need for robust external border protection.
Despite Spain’s efforts to finalize the matter during its EU Council Presidency, Austria and the Netherlands continue to block the two countries’ membership, citing concerns about irregular migration. Both Romania and Bulgaria have fulfilled the required criteria, but their accession remains in limbo.
Austria Schengen expansion, Romania Bulgaria accession, Schengen enlargement delay, Austria EU membership stance, European Union accession news