Austria still does not want Bulgaria and Romania to join the Schengen – Politics
Red-White-Red is still not in favor of Bulgaria and Romania joining Schengen. Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) announces that Austria will remain negative for the time being.
Nehammer explained this at a press conference on the first anniversary of his inauguration. “The migration crisis is actually a dramatic one for Austria,” said Nehammer, who once again called for functioning EU external border protection, functioning EU asylum procedures and repatriation agreements from the EU Commission.
Schengen accession Bulgaria, Romania: Austria against it
Nehammer rejected the accusation of “staging”. Today, Austria is confronted with more than 100,000 migrants being apprehended, 75,000 of them are not registered, although they came to Austria via other EU countries. From surveys of asylum seekers and people smugglers and the corresponding mobile phone data analysis, we know that 40 percent chose the route Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary to Austria. “And because that’s the case, Austria is currently not agreeing to the Schengen expansion to include Romania and Bulgaria,” said Nehammer.
When for Schengen accession of Bulgaria and Romania?
When asked what had to happen for Austria to agree to the accession of the two countries, Nehammer said: “The number of irregularly apprehended people without registration who come via Bulgaria and Romania must be reduced. Then I can assume that the EU’s external border with Romania and Bulgaria will work. 40 percent of 75,000 is clearly too much.” The Chancellor did not name a specific reduction target.
Nehammer praised cooperation with Hungary, Serbia
Nehammer praised the cooperation with Hungary and Serbia. The aim of this “security partnership” was for Serbia to withdraw its visa liberalization. “That should have been successful. Serbia has agreed to end visa liberalization with India at the turn of the year. That would mean that we would have well over 10,000 fewer asylum applications from Indian citizens.” In the case of Tunisia, this has already happened and the asylum applications from Tunisians are already decreasing.