Bulgaria and Romania have faced a long and difficult path to joining the Schengen Area. Although they met the technical standards in 2011, they still face delays. Austria remains the main obstacle to their full integration at land borders.
As the year-end deadline nears, challenges continue, raising doubts about when they will finally join Schengen.
Schengen integration at air and sea borders completed
In early 2024, Bulgaria and Romania made progress toward full Schengen membership by removing checks at their air and sea borders. This partial step was a key achievement after years of working to meet Schengen rules.
The change has already helped by cutting wait times at airports and ports and allowing easier movement of people.
The bigger challenge lies at the land borders, where full Schengen membership would remove the last internal checks and make road and rail travel more efficient.
Land borders are crucial for trade, tourism, and daily travel, especially with neighboring EU countries.
Austria’s veto a major hurdle
Austria has been the main obstacle to Bulgaria and Romania’s full entry into the Schengen Area, citing concerns over irregular migration.
Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner has repeatedly stated that while partial Schengen integration is progress, full membership for these countries cannot happen until illegal immigration is better controlled.
This position has frustrated Bulgaria and Romania, as they have met all Schengen requirements, and most European Union (EU) member states support their inclusion.
Although Austria allowed air and sea border integration, concerns about land borders remain. There is no guarantee Austria will change its stance at upcoming EU meetings.
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu hopes talks with Austria will provide clarity before the December 2024 EU Council meeting, but uncertainty continues.
(Image courtesy of Darko Vojinovic via AP Photo)
Hungary champions cause
On the other hand, Hungary has become one of the strongest supporters of Bulgaria and Romania’s full Schengen membership.
As president of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2024, Hungary has made this a priority for the December meeting of EU interior ministers.
Both Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Interior Minister Sandor Pinter are optimistic that Bulgaria and Romania will join the Schengen Area by the end of the year, with Hungary actively pushing the issue.
Hungarian officials have emphasized the progress both countries have made in securing their borders and following EU migration policies.
Pinter believes that the data from Bulgaria and Romania should ease any remaining concerns, especially Austria’s, and lead to a positive decision.
Future of free movement
The uncertainty over Bulgaria and Romania’s full Schengen membership affects short-term visitors, long-term residents, and migrants.
For tourists and business travelers, land border controls in these countries cause delays and extra costs, especially for those driving between neighboring countries.
For example, wait times at Bulgaria’s borders can range from 20 minutes to several hours, depending on traffic and security checks.
Long-term residents and migrants face more challenges due to these ongoing checks.
Bulgaria and Romania’s exclusion from the Schengen land zone limits the free movement of workers and students, making cross-border commutes and participation in EU-wide activities harder.
The upcoming European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) could also add complications for non-EU citizens in Bulgaria and Romania.
While the ETIAS aims to improve security by pre-screening travelers from visa-exempt countries, it may introduce more administrative steps, especially for third-country nationals who frequently travel between these countries and other Schengen states.
(Image courtesy of Raimond Spekking via Wikimedia Commons)
Schengen expansion at risk?
The ongoing debate over Bulgaria and Romania’s Schengen membership reflects wider issues in the EU’s immigration and border control policies.
Austria’s veto stems from concerns about the EU’s asylum system and the strain irregular migration puts on border states.
Austria argues that allowing Bulgaria and Romania full Schengen access could increase irregular migration, especially along the Balkan route.
On the other hand, countries like Hungary believe that fully including Bulgaria and Romania would strengthen the Schengen Area.
They argue that keeping border checks with these nations goes against the EU’s principle of free movement, and Austria’s concerns about migration should be dealt with through broader EU reforms, not by blocking Schengen membership.
This debate underscores the need for a unified EU immigration policy that balances security with the benefits of free movement.
Full Schengen membership for Bulgaria and Romania would be a positive step, but it also reveals divisions within the EU on how to manage irregular migration.
Schengen’s future and the path forward
As the December 2024 deadline nears, the future of Bulgaria and Romania’s full Schengen membership is still unclear. While Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria remain hopeful for a positive outcome, Austria’s opposition continues to be a major obstacle.
This issue highlights broader challenges within the Schengen area, particularly around migration and border security.
For Bulgaria and Romania, full Schengen membership is more than a political achievement—it is crucial for their economies and citizens. Removing land border checks would ease travel, boost trade, and bring real benefits to both countries.
However, reaching this goal will require navigating tough political negotiations and addressing wider EU concerns about migration.
The decision in December will be a key moment for the Schengen Area’s future and the EU’s support for free movement. Whether Bulgaria and Romania fully join Schengen will affect not only them but also set the tone for future expansions of the border-free zone.
Source link : https://etias.com/articles/schengen-membership-of-bulgaria-and-romania-in-limbo
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Publish date : 2024-10-21 00:19:00
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