EU Parliament President Urges Austria to Find a Solution to Let Romania Join Schengen
Romania’s accession to the Schengen Zone was blocked by authorities in Austria and Netherlands in December last year over illegal border crossing concerns, AtoZSerwisPlus.ro reports.
“Eleven years ago, the EU Commission and the EU Parliament welcomed the membership of Romania and Bulgaria in the Schengen area. I understand that Austria has concerns, but I want to convince them that we can find a way out,” Metsola pointed out, according to Plus 24 reports.
Regarding the issue of migration, Metsola expressed her hopes that an agreement on asylum, as well as a migration pact introduced by the European Union Commission, will soon be reached.
“What I don’t want is that we fail and the countries then have no choice but to reintroduce internal border controls,” she stressed that they hold the best possible facts on the table.
However, she had no comments regarding Austria’s current carrying border controls with Slovenia.
Recently, authorities in Austria announced that they would further extend controls at the country’s shared border with Slovenia for an additional six months, starting from May 11, which decision was not welcomed by authorities in Ljubljana and the EU.
Romania, which is a member of the European Union, is still not part of the borderless area of Schengen, despite the fact that it met all the needed requirements in order for this process to be finalized.
The Balkan country’s membership to the Schengen Zone was blocked in December last year after Austria and the Netherlands opposed the further expansion of the EU’s visa-free travel zone, citing illegal border concerns.
On the other hand, other EU countries have continuously expressed their support in order for Romania to become part of the Schengen Zone as soon as possible.
Recently, during his visit to Bucharest, the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, reiterated Germany’s stance that Romania’s place is in the Schengen Zone.
Last month, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also said that he wants Romania in the Schengen Area during a meeting he had with the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, and Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca.
In addition, earlier this month, the European Commission urged the Council to permit Romania and Bulgaria to become full members of the Schengen Zone this year in the second State of Schengen Report published on May 16.
Authorities in Spain also called on Austria to unlock the full accession of Romania to the Schengen Area.
