Bulgaria and Romania may join the Schengen Zone this fall, according to a Euractiv report.
According to Euractiv, in October border controls at the countries’ airports will be lifted while from January 2024, ground controls will no longer be kept in place, SchengenVisaInfo.com reported.
The report quotes Bulgarian sources saying Brussels is preparing to include both Balkan states in the borderless area in October this year if they show willingness for continuing reforms.
“According to the publication, the biggest obstacle to Schengen membership has been removed – the objections of the Netherlands, which has vetoed the accession for years,” Euractiv reports.
Bulgaria and Romania are waiting for years now to acquire membership in the Schengen Zone.
In December last year, European Union Interior Ministers supported Croatia joining the Schengen Area, but Austria and the Netherlands voted against Bulgaria and Romania’s accession to the travel-free zone, citing illegal migration concerns.
In May this year, the European Commission urged the Council to allow both countries to become members of the Schengen Zone this year.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov, said earlier this month that his government will continue its work so the much sought-after process can be finalized by the end of this year.
He stressed that authorities will work towards systematic changes in border control management.
European Union Parliament President, Roberta Metsola said she wants to convince Austria that both countries should be admitted.
Austria has expressed fear about migration while Metsola said she hopes an agreement on asylum will soon be reached.
