Lyla Lindsey
Austria has been against Romania joining the Schengen Area, a passport-free zone that has abolished border checks between most EU member states, citing concerns about rising illegal migration through Romania. Austria, which is surrounded by Schengen countries, has argued that the control system at the zone's external borders is malfunctioning, and that until the zone is properly sealed, it should not be expanded. Romania has been seeking to join the Schengen area since it joined the EU and has been deemed ready for over 12 years, but a political decision of all member states has kept the country out.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Austria's stance on Romania joining Schengen | Austria has blocked Romania from joining the Schengen Area |
| Reason for block | Austria has cited concerns about rising illegal migration through Romania |
| Romania's response | Romania has countered Austria's claims, arguing that it is not part of the Western Balkan route and that it is well-prepared to manage its external borders |
| European Commission's stance | The European Commission has endorsed Romania's readiness to join the Schengen Area and passed a resolution denouncing Austria's exclusion as "discriminatory" |
| Other countries' stance | France, Germany, and Croatia have voiced their support for Romania to join the Schengen Area. The Netherlands has expressed opposition. |
| Impact on relations | The veto has improved previously strained relations between Austria and Romania, but Romania has expressed dissatisfaction and euroscepticism |
| Future prospects | Austria has not provided a timeline for lifting the veto, but both countries have signed an action plan to combat irregular migration |
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What You'll Learn
- Austria's concerns about illegal migration through Romania
- Austria's belief that the Schengen system is not working
- Romania's counter-argument that it is not part of the Western Balkan route
- Austria's refusal to provide a timeline for lifting its veto
- The potential for increased euroscepticism in Romania
Austria's concerns about illegal migration through Romania
Austria has been against Romania joining the Schengen Area due to concerns about rising illegal migration through Romania. Austria, which is surrounded by Schengen countries, has argued that the control system at the zone's external borders is malfunctioning, and that this has led to a large influx of asylum seekers through the Western Balkan route.
Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner has stated that Austria got more than 100,000 illegal border crossings in a year, 75,000 of which were not registered. Karner has emphasised that the system does not work and that there is a need to improve external border protection. He has also noted that Austria and Romania are partners in fighting irregular migration and that Romania is part of the solution.
Romania has countered Austria's claims, arguing that it is not part of the Western Balkan route and that it is well prepared to manage its external borders. Romanian MEPs have also pointed out that Romania has been deemed ready to join Schengen for 12 years, and that Austria is citing migration problems that Romania did not cause. Bucharest has expressed astonishment and incomprehension at Austria's argument regarding illegal border crossings, stating that the Austrian government has not provided reliable evidence to support their claims.
Austria's stance against Romania's inclusion in the Schengen Area has been criticised by other EU countries, and has been described as politically motivated. The European Parliament and the European Commission have supported Romania's entry, and a resolution was passed denouncing the exclusion as "discriminatory". Despite this, Austria has maintained its veto, stating that it cannot provide an exact date for when it will be lifted.
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Austria's belief that the Schengen system is not working
Austria has been vocal about its opposition to Romania (and Bulgaria) joining the Schengen zone. One of the main reasons for this opposition is Austria's belief that the Schengen system is not working effectively.
Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner has expressed concern over the high number of illegal border crossings into Austria, with 75,000 unregistered migrants entering the country in 2023. Karner has argued that the Schengen system is not functioning properly, and that this issue needs to be addressed before any new members are admitted. He has emphasised the need to improve external border protection and fortify the internal security system. Karner's stance is that Austria is not against Romania specifically, but rather, the focus is on fixing the system.
Austria's concerns about the functioning of the Schengen system are not unique. Germany, for instance, has also acknowledged issues with the system, as evidenced by its extension of border controls with Austria. Additionally, there have been reports of high-profile incidents involving migrants, smugglers, and border guards on the Bulgarian-Turkish border, which likely factor into Austria's concerns about the external border protection provided by Schengen candidate countries.
While Romania has been deemed ready to join the Schengen zone by the European Commission and has taken measures to combat illegal migration, Austria maintains that the current issues with the Schengen system must be resolved first. This belief that the system is not working has led to Austria's repeated blocking of Romania's accession and its inability to provide a timeline for lifting its veto.
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Romania's counter-argument that it is not part of the Western Balkan route
Romania has argued that it is not part of the Western Balkan Route and that it is well-prepared to manage its external borders. Bucharest has stressed that several reports issued by the European Commission and fact-finding missions of experts have proven the country is capable of handling its external borders. Romania's active involvement in fighting irregular migration at the bilateral and EU levels has also been noted. Lucian Bode, the Romanian Interior Minister, has stated that Romania is "part of the solution, not the problem".
Romania has also received endorsements from other countries. The European Commission, in charge of assessing Schengen candidacies, has endorsed Romania's readiness to become part of the passport-free area. The European Parliament has also passed a new resolution denouncing the exclusion of Romania as "discriminatory". France and Germany, the bloc's most influential states, have voiced their support for Romania joining the Schengen zone.
Despite these endorsements, Austria has maintained its opposition to Romania's accession to the Schengen zone. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner has argued that the Schengen system does not work effectively, citing the example of more than 100,000 illegal border crossings into Austria in a year, 75,000 of which were not registered. Karner has emphasized the need to improve the system and fortify external border protection before allowing new members into the Schengen zone.
While Romania acknowledges Austria's concern about managing irregular migration, it has countered by emphasizing its commitment to combating the issue. Romania has engaged in bilateral cooperation with Austria against traffickers and has actively participated in efforts to strengthen the security of the EU's external borders. Romania's argument that it is not part of the Western Balkan Route is supported by its efforts to address irregular migration and its endorsements from various European entities.
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Austria's refusal to provide a timeline for lifting its veto
Romania, on the other hand, has expressed deep frustration over Austria's stance, with Romanian officials stating that they understand Austria's concerns but consider themselves "part of the solution, not of the problem." Romania has actively been involved in combating irregular migration at both the bilateral and EU levels. Romanian leaders have also pointed out that Romania is not part of the Western Balkan route, and that it is well-prepared to manage its external borders, as supported by reports from the European Commission and fact-finding missions of experts.
The European Commission, which assesses Schengen candidacies, has endorsed Romania's readiness to join the passport-free area since 2011, and France and Germany have also voiced their support for Romania's accession. However, Austria's reticence, along with that of the Netherlands, has prevented Romania from joining. Romania has threatened to take Austria to the EU Court of Justice and has blocked the attendance of Austrian officials at NATO meetings to express its frustration.
Despite the tensions, there have been efforts at cooperation between the two countries. Karner and Romanian Interior Minister Lucian Bode have signed an action plan to combat irregular migration, including establishing joint Hungarian-Austrian patrols at border crossing points. Karner has also stressed that he is "not fighting against Romania" but is working together with Romania to improve the system.
In December 2024, Austria finally dropped its veto on Romania and Bulgaria becoming full members of the Schengen travel zone. Austria's Interior Minister, Gerhard Karner, stated that "after 'Schengen Air', 'Schengen Land' is now open to Romania and Bulgaria," indicating that their demands regarding tackling illegal immigration had been met.
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The potential for increased euroscepticism in Romania
Romania has been seeking to join the Schengen area since it joined the EU. In 2022, Austria blocked Romania's accession to the Schengen zone, citing concerns about rising illegal migration through Romania. This has caused dissatisfaction and euroscepticism in Romania, with Romanian MEPs claiming that Austria is under pressure to allow the country's accession.
Romania has been deemed ready to join the Schengen zone for over 12 years, and the European Parliament has passed resolutions denouncing Austria's obstruction and criticising Vienna's veto as creating an anti-European feeling. The Romanian government has stressed that the country is not part of the Western Balkan route and that it is well-prepared to manage its external borders.
The postponement of Romania's accession to the Schengen zone is fuelling political forces that are sceptical of the EU, particularly in the context of the growing economic and security challenges triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. These political forces claim a lack of solidarity from Western European countries, which could further increase euroscepticism in Romania.
Furthermore, the Romanian public and political elites have expressed strong outcry over Austria's veto, which could contribute to a more negative perception of the EU in the country. Romania's relations with Austria have been strained due to this issue, and the Romanian government has emphasised the need to balance rights and obligations within the EU.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria has expressed concerns about the rising tide of illegal migration through Romania. Austria, which is surrounded by Schengen countries, blames the situation on a malfunctioning control system at the zone's external borders.
The Schengen zone is a passport-free area that has abolished border checks between the vast majority of EU member states.
Romania has vehemently countered Austria's claims, arguing that it is not part of the Western Balkan route and that it is well prepared to manage its external borders. Romania has also expressed dissatisfaction and euroscepticism, claiming that it has been deemed ready to join Schengen for 12 years.
Romania's MEPs claim that Austria is under pressure to allow the accession of Romania to the Schengen area, with the European Parliament passing a resolution against Austria for vetoing the accession. France and Germany, the bloc's most influential states, voiced their support for Romania this year.
No, Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner has stated that Austria cannot offer an exact date for when it will lift its veto on Romania joining the Schengen area.
