Romania and Bulgaria were rejected by the interior ministers of the 26-nation European Union, but Croatia was approved.
Zagreb experienced relief following the referendum, but Bucharest and Sofia experienced rage and dismay. The foreign minister of Germany declared that it was a dreadful day for Europe. All three nations received support from the European Commission as having met the requirements to join the region, which is home to 420 million people. EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson added, “I’m also disappointed.” Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU six years before Croatia, which joined in 2013.
The decision, which was applauded by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, means that on January 1—the same day that it adopts the euro—Croatia will close its border crossings with EU neighbors Slovenia and Hungary.
The 1985-established Schengen region permits unrestricted travel for people and commodities, typically without the need to provide passports or other official papers. It contains 22 of the 27 member states of the EU, as well as Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway. Due to worries that both countries were lax about illegal immigration, Austria and the Netherlands decided against admitting Romania and Bulgaria.
Austrian resistance was the most vociferous.
“It is not right for a system that is not working in many places to be expanded at this time,” said Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, explaining his country’s veto.
The Vienna government highlighted a sharp rise in the number of migrants entering Austria illegally via the West Balkan route as the major justification for keeping Romania and Bulgaria out of Schengen.
Romanian and Bulgarian political figures counter that few people cross their borders, and that their attempts to join Schengen have been thwarted for political reasons.
They claim that the governments of Austria and the Netherlands want to win over voters who are anti-immigrant.
128,000 “irregular entries” into the EU from the West Balkans have been documented by Frontex, the EU border agency, so far this year—a 77% increase over 2021—with 22,300 of those coming in October alone.
These numbers reflect repeated tries by the same individuals. According to the Austrian authorities, there are now 75,000 unauthorized immigrants living there.
A no-visa program allowed them to enter Serbia lawfully; 40% of them were from Tunisia and India. Another 40% came from nations dominated by Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Syria.
Romania declared that it couldn’t comprehend Austria’s “firm determination.”
Marcel Ciolacu, the leader of the Social Democrats, who are currently in power, continued, saying that “European unity and stability experienced a harsh blow today from a state that chose, in trying times, to desert its European friends and serve instead the interests of Russia.”
Ivan Demerdzhiev, the interim interior minister for Bulgaria, was more diplomatic: “Austria has made it clear it is ready for compromise and wants a complete reform of the Schengen area in those places where the mechanisms do not work,” he said, expressing optimism that Thursday’s decision would be overturned the following year.
The bulk of those who came to Austria for safety were already members of the EU, noted migration researcher Judith Kohlenberger in her critique from within Austria.
“It is illogical and hypocritical to condemn Romania and Bulgaria but not Hungary or even Croatia, which continue systematic push-backs,” she said.
