Austria signals possible end to Schengen veto for Romania and Bulgaria amid progress in border security
Austria’s longstanding veto preventing Romania and Bulgaria from joining the Schengen Area might soon be lifted, according to Austria’s Interior Minister. This decision could follow significant improvements in border security, especially in reducing illegal migration through the Western Balkans route. Austrian officials credit these advances to their strict border policies, which they claim have decreased migration numbers significantly.
For the past two years, Austria has opposed the inclusion of Romania and Bulgaria in Schengen, which guarantees free movement across European Union member states. Despite gradual policy relaxations allowing entry by air and sea, the Austrian government maintained concerns over land border security due to high refugee traffic. Now, as Austria’s newly designated EU Commissioner for Migration, Magnus Brunner, calls for the full Schengen membership of these two nations, the path forward appears more promising.
Romanian leaders share this optimism. Victor Negrescu, a Romanian Member of the European Parliament, outlined potential scenarios for Schengen admission: an agreement by year-end, extended negotiations under the incoming European Commission, or possible delays related to Bulgaria’s political landscape. Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu expressed confidence that full Schengen access could be achieved by March 2025, targeting a final decision before the December 8 presidential elections.
Further negotiations are scheduled for November 22 in Hungary, where discussions could pave the way for a final agreement. With key European leaders supporting Romania and Bulgaria’s Schengen ambitions, an official expansion may soon become a reality, transforming border policies and enabling Romanian and Bulgarian citizens greater freedom to travel across the EU by spring 2025.
