In Bulgaria and Romania, the decision of the EU states to include the two countries in the Schengen area is welcomed – even if initially only to a limited extent. Both countries made it clear that their goal is full accession.
The governments of Bulgaria and Romania have welcomed the EU member states’ decision to lift personal controls at their countries’ air and sea borders.
A statement by Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maria Gabriel said joining the Schengen area was a national priority. Bulgaria now wants to work together with the EU to eliminate controls at land borders. The co-chairman of the co-ruling liberal party “We Continue the Change” (PP), Kiril Petkov, wrote on Facebook: “Bulgaria has been waiting for this moment for twelve years.”
The EU countries agreed on Saturday to expand the Schengen area to include Romania and Bulgaria. Accordingly, personal controls at the internal air and sea borders should be lifted from the end of March 2024. However, a decision on lifting controls at the land borders will only be made later.
criticism of restricted accession
Bulgaria’s Russia-friendly opposition parties criticized the fact that accession was initially only valid to a limited extent. “We have met all the conditions and deserve everything – full Schengen admission,” said Socialist leader Kornelia Ninova.
The leader of the nationalist Vasrashdane (Rebirth) party, Kostadin Kostadinov, criticized the fact that, following the Dublin Agreement, Bulgaria now has to accept more migrants returned from other EU states. “The government is turning Bulgaria into a huge refugee camp,” he said.
Irregular migration at Bulgaria’s border
Bulgaria has an EU external border with Turkey that is around 250 kilometers long and is protected, among other things, with barbed wire fences. Migrants from crisis areas repeatedly try to cross this border into the EU irregularly.
From January to the end of November 2023, the Bulgarian border police said they prevented 176,000 irregular border crossings almost exclusively at the border with Turkey. A good 18,000 migrants were also arrested inland during this period.
Full accession is Romania’s top priority
The Romanian government also initially welcomed the abolition of personal controls at the air and sea borders with Romanians decided by the EU states – but President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu also emphasized that the abolition of controls at the land borders and thus the complete The country’s accession to the Schengen area is now a top priority.
President Iohannis described the step achieved as a “milestone”. After “13 years of failure and humiliation” in the Schengen accession negotiations, the government has begun an irreversible process, said Prime Minister Ciolacu.
It is an “important result” for the citizens of Romania, wrote Foreign Minister Luminiţa Odobescu. Romania remains committed to a “strong and secure Schengen area”.
Von der Leyen calls decision “great achievement”
The EU Commission in Brussels also welcomed the decision of the EU countries. The accession of Romania and Bulgaria will promote travel, trade and tourism and further strengthen the internal market.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it was an important step forward for both countries and for the Schengen area as a whole. This great achievement is the result of the hard work, commitment and perseverance of both countries.
Romania and Bulgaria in the EU since 2007
The Schengen area is intended to ensure unrestricted movement of people in Europe. So far, 23 of the 27 EU member states as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland have belonged to it.
All EU member states will become full members of the Schengen area as soon as they meet the requirements. Romania and Bulgaria had already joined the EU in 2007. Until September, the judiciary and the rule of law there were under special surveillance by the EU Commission due to rampant corruption and organized crime. Because of these problems, there was no unanimity among the heads of state and government for accession for a long time.
Wolfgang Vichtl, ARD Vienna, tagesschau, December 30, 2023 5:56 p.m