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Austria still won't lift the veto on Bulgaria's entry into Schengen with land borders

published on 3/4/24 3:11 PM

Gerhard Karner

Photo: European Council

Austria will wait for the results of the opening of the Schengen area to Bulgaria and Romania by air and water, and only then will it reflect on the opening of the land borders, Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said before the meeting of relevant ministers in Brussels.

He clarified that after long negotiations with both countries a compromise was reached, but it is still unclear how Schengen will work from the end of March, when they will join. "Anything else would be hasty and counterproductive," he concluded.

The European Commission insists that Austria abandon the blockade of Bulgaria and Romania so that they can enter Schengen by land. Among the conditions set by Vienna are that Sofia and Bucharest take back registered refugees residing in Austria, as well as that the security of the EU's external borders is guaranteed through additional officers of the Frontex border agency.

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Radio Bulgaria News Austria Gerhard Karner land borders Schengen