A non-binding European Parliament resolution adopted on Wednesday calls for Bulgaria and Romania to join the border-free Schengen area by the end of the year, stressing severe side effects for the two countries’ citizens and slamming Austria for blocking their accession without a legitimate reason, according to Euractiv.
Last December, the Netherlands vetoed Bulgaria’s Schengen accession, while Austria vetoed Sofia and Bucharest. At the time, Vienna argued that the two countries were hotbeds for illegal immigration.
“Romania and Bulgaria do not represent a migratory route towards the rest of the Schengen area”, the European Parliament resolution reads, quoting from the EU border agency Frontex.
Already in 2011, the two countries had “met the conditions necessary for the application of the Schengen acquis [matching the legal framework of the bloc] in all areas,” the text stressed, adding that fact-finding missions in 2022 confirmed their implementation of the Schengen rules and protocols.
However, the resolution also found support among Austrian lawmakers from the EPP group. Overall, EPP MEPs supported the resolution.
“I consider the criticism of the federal government to be completely justified,” Claudia Gamon, MEP and EU spokesperson of the liberal NEOS, told Euractiv, adding that the veto was “deeply anti-European.”
The non-binding resolution also called on the European Commission to examine whether the Austrian veto violates the EU Treaties and potential future actions before the EU court.
“I can only hope that the Commission will take up the matter. After all, such an approach opens Pandora’s box for imitators to make inroads against fundamental European freedoms and principles,” Gamon stated.
In early June, Romanian MEP Eugen Tomac (EPP/PMP) said the only way for Romania to enter the Schengen zone is through proceedings at the EU Court of Justice.
However, besides opposition from Austria, the Netherlands, which recently saw the collapse of its government over migration issues, is also acting as a roadblock.
With Austrian parties starting to campaign ahead of the EU and legislative elections next year, Austria may also be hardening its stance. The European Parliament is asking the two countries to join the Schengen Area by year’s end.
The European Commission shares the same opinion. Contacted by Euractiv, an EU Commission spokesperson said for more than 10 years, both countries have met all the necessary conditions to join the Schengen area.
“The Commission has repeatedly stressed that we must open the Schengen area to Bulgaria and Romania. The Commission is confident that a decision for the Schengen accession of Bulgaria and Romania can be taken this year,” the EU spokesperson added.
Moreover, the resolution points out that Austria’s veto has created anti-European sentiment and caused major damage both to the Romanian and Bulgarian economies and to the climate, given the massive pollution at borders where millions of cars wait for hours for checks.
The resolution calls on the Commission to estimate the opportunity costs and the environmental damage that Romania and Bulgaria have suffered since June 2011 due to the “unjustified denial” of Schengen membership and encourages them to analyse options for financial compensation.