2023-12-15 23:19:26
In its resistance to the Schengen accession of Bulgaria and Romania, Austria is now apparently completely alone within the EU. The Dutch Ministry of Justice announced yesterday that it was withdrawing its veto against Bulgaria’s membership in the Schengen area, citing deficiencies in the rule of law. However, this change of course still has to be confirmed by a vote in the Dutch parliament, the outcome of which is questionable.
After the parliamentary elections at the end of November, the government in The Hague is only in office on a caretaker basis and does not have its own majority in the parliament. There was a shift to the right during the vote. While Justice Minister Dilan Yesilgöz’s right-wing liberal VVD fell to third place, the Eurosceptic PVV led by right-wing populist Geert Wilders became by far the strongest force. Wilders is currently trying to form a coalition government including the VVD and other right-wing parties.
Formal decision expected in the next few days
Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said on the sidelines of the EU summit that he expected a formal decision from the Dutch parliament to end the Schengen veto “in the next few days”. “We have come a long way to make this possible,” Denkow said, according to the Bulgarian news agency BTA. Talks with Austria would continue. Various “scenarios” are discussed and possible resolution texts are exchanged. “But one thing is clear: without a positive decision from the Netherlands it would be meaningless,” he said.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) has recently softened the veto position he adopted a year ago regarding the two southeastern European states that have been waiting to join Schengen for over a decade. His proposal for “Air Schengen”, i.e. an abolition of Schengen border controls for air travelers from Bulgaria and Romania, met with mixed reactions.
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