The goal is to explain to Austrian society and politicians that it is better for them that Bulgaria and Romania be in Schengen. For them, this means better protected EU external borders, less migration to Europe, cheaper food, lower inflation, greater energy security. This was stated by Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov at the Sofia airport before his working visit to Austria, a BGNES reporter reported.
These are arguments that are clear and short, and we will explain them until they are heard, said Denkov. Today, at the meeting with Chancellor Karl Nehammer, no answer is expected to the question of whether Bulgaria will become a Schengen member by the end of the year, he explained. According to him, this is a process that requires decisions at the European level. "The Schengen area allows free movement of people and goods, because this is good for European citizens. The exclusion of Bulgaria and Romania harms not only the Bulgarians and Romanians, but also the citizens of the other countries in the EU due to the difficulty of importing goods. This must be explained so that no one can say that they didn't hear it. Then these messages should go to the European Council for discussion and a decision will be made, taking into account all points of view, including ours. This will happen in December," said Denkov .
BGNES recalls that Denkov and Austrian Chancellor Nehammer were supposed to meet at the beginning of October, but the meeting was canceled due to the chancellor's illness. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said on Monday that Austria opposes the expansion of the Schengen area.
Prime Minister Academician Nikolay Denkov will also visit the Austrian Parliament, where he will hold a meeting with the chairmen of the committees on EU affairs, foreign policy, and internal affairs, as well as with the chairman of the parliamentary group "Austria-Bulgaria, Romania" Dr. Harald Troch and with people's representatives from different political formations.
During the visit, Academician Denkov will also meet with the chairman of the Association of Austrian Industrialists, Georg Knill, and senior managers of large Austrian companies operating on the Bulgarian market.
BGNES also recalls that the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area was rejected last year within the framework of the Council of Justice and Internal Affairs of the EU, held in Brussels, with two votes against - from Austria and the Netherlands.
The deadlock over the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen could be resolved after a vote in early December. This, at least, is the intention of Spain, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU in the second half of 2023.
Admitting new members to the Schengen area requires unanimous approval from the Justice and Home Affairs Council, which is made up of the interior ministers of the 27 EU member states.
On October 19, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs Ilva Johansson expressed her firm support for Sofia and Bucharest. "Romania and Bulgaria meet all the requirements for Schengen and should enter it. They show that they can guard the outer borders. I am optimistic that they will enter," emphasized Johansson. /BGNES
