According to Austrian media, Austria's Minister of Interior Gerhard Karner is ready to loosen the veto on the enlargement of the Schengen area with Bulgaria and Romania, reported BTA. The announcement, published in Sunday's edition of Kurier newspaper and Saturday night's electronic edition of the Kleine Zeitung newspaper, cited by the Austria Press Agency (APA), reads that according to reports received from government circles, the borders could be lifted, at least for air traffic. The land borders will retain their current status, with Bulgaria and Romania not being Schengen members. A spokesman for the interior minister confirmed this to the APA, the electronic edition of Salzburger Nachrichten also reported.

On Monday Austria’s Interior Minister Gerhard Karner will travel to Slovenia to discuss at a meeting with representatives of Bulgaria and Romania the conditions that must be met for Austria to agree to the so-called "Air Schengen". The consultations should take place on Tuesday within the framework of the Salzburg Forum in Brdo Castle near Kranj.