Austria has confirmed the agreement with Bulgaria and Romania on the inclusion of the air and sea ports of the two countries in the Schengen area, the Bulgarian national television (BNT) reported on December 30, citing the Austrian Interior Ministry.
The ministry said, as quoted by BNT, that the text of the agreement was sent to the Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union on the night of December 29.
The earliest possible date of entry is March 2024, Austrian media said.
The report stated that the agreement means that in the future travelers from Romania and Bulgaria will not be subject to border controls when traveling to other EU countries. As usual, despite not going through passport control, the identity document will be checked at the gate by the airline with the additional support of the Austrian, Romanian or Bulgarian police.
According to the Austrian Ministry of the interior, there are currently no negotiations underway on the inclusion of the land borders of Bulgaria and Romania and thus full accession to the Schengen area.
The Austrian newspaper Kurier said that the three demands made by Vienna were taken into account, according to a report by the Bulgarian national radio.
This leads to an increase in Frontex's presence in Bulgaria and Romania, more funds from the European Commission to provide stable protection of external borders, strengthen control over land borders, and for Bulgaria and Romania to accept asylum seekers, mainly from Afghanistan and Syria. Who are applying for asylum in Austria.
The Bulgarian government has stated to BBNR that it will not comment on the subject of the phased admission of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area until the negotiations with Austria are completed, and while no binding legal document has been approved.
Austria was the only remaining member of the Schengen area that did not give its consent to the admission of Bulgaria and Romania to the zone, after the parliament in the Netherlands gave its consent on December 21 .
