Austria opens door to Romania, Bulgaria in EU free-travel zone

Romania and Bulgaria might finally get the green light to become full members of the EU free-travel zone from the turn of the year, Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said Friday.

The countries were supposed to join the Schengen zone in 2023 along with Croatia, but that deal unraveled when Austria objected that Bulgaria and Romania were failing to handle a steep rise in migrants arriving through the Western Balkan route. The Netherlands also opposed Bulgaria’s entry.

While air and maritime internal controls with the countries were lifted earlier this year, a Council deal to lift internal land borders is still pending.

But at a meeting Friday in Budapest, the internal affairs ministers of Hungary, Austria, Bulgaria and Romania agreed to “initiate the necessary steps” to set a date to lift checks on land borders with Romania and Bulgaria, on the condition that joint efforts to stem irregular migration are continued. Their declaration also specified that the countries agreed to continue checks on borders between Hungary and Romania and between Romania and Bulgaria for at least six months “to prevent any serious threat to public policy or internal security.”

The deal means there is hope that ministers meeting on Dec. 12 will agree to lift controls on the land borders with Bulgaria and Romania, Johansson said. She added that she hopes that the Council would settle on Jan. 1 as the start date.

Romania and Bulgaria “have fulfilled all criteria — and above,” according to the commissioner. While overall irregular migration to the EU is down by 40 percent, there’s been an 80 percent decrease on the Western Balkan route, and there have been “no hiccups” since air borders were lifted, she said.

Austria’s veto has not gone down well in Romania and Bulgaria, with the countries arguing that the continued border checks have resulted in long queues, supply chain disruptions and delayed deliveries, dealing a blow to their economies.

The fresh prospect of full Schengen membership comes at an opportune time for Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who is running for president. He is leading the polls ahead of the first round of the election this Sunday.

“Romanians have already felt the benefits of partial entry into the Schengen Area, but Romanian economic growth will be boosted with full accession, including by land,” Ciolacu said in comments Friday.

There has been a massive drop in migrant arrival numbers, which are now “moving toward zero,” Austria’s Internal Affairs Minister Gerhard Karner said following the ministerial meeting.

But he nonetheless remained cautious, saying that he’d discuss the border measures with his chancellor, Karl Nehammer, before taking a decision. The final decision will be taken in December, he said, adding; “Cross the bridge when you get there.”

Addressing Bulgarian and Romanian citizens, Johansson was more enthusiastic: “You belong in Schengen, and you deserve to benefit from all the freedoms in the Schengen area.”