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LUXEMBOURG/STRASBOURG – The Hungarian presidency of the EU Council will put the query of lifting checks on the Schengen land borders of Bulgaria and Romania on the agenda of the European inside ministers (for the assembly on December 12). This was introduced at a press convention by the Hungarian Minister of the Inside, Sándor Pintér, following the assembly of his colleagues in Luxembourg. I hope for a optimistic determination, he added.
At a press convention within the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán clarified this week that Austria stays the one one which at the moment has reservations about such a call. On the finish of 2023, Austria didn’t help the entire removing of Schengen checks for Bulgaria and Romania.
I don’t make predictions and I don’t make guarantees, however I consider {that a} huge step ahead is coming, Minister Pintér mentioned on the press convention after the assembly in Luxembourg.
Bulgaria and Romania totally apply the Schengen laws, famous the European Commissioner for Dwelling Affairs Ylva Johansson. A choice relating to the land borders stays to be made. The 2 international locations are in Schengen, I count on the following determination of the EU Council very quickly, she mentioned. I’m in touch with Austria and that’s the reason I’m very optimistic, mentioned Johansson, who once more expressed her hope that the choice can be made by the top of her time period (December).
Bulgaria and Romania apply Schengen laws excellently, fulfilling all situations and much more. An excellent job has been achieved, summarized Johansson. We acquired extraordinarily severe help for full Schengen membership, mentioned the Appearing Minister of the Inside Atanas Ilkov to Bulgarian journalists in Luxembourg.
In line with him, a excessive evaluation was given on the assembly of the EU Council for the joint actions between Bulgaria and Romania, and for the great bilateral cooperation. Ilkov reported that he spoke along with his Austrian colleague, however to this point there isn’t a categorical place from Vienna. I can’t say what it will likely be within the coming days, added the minister.
There is no such thing as a requirement for us that now we have not fulfilled, Ilkov clarified in response to a query from BTA. We now have fulfilled greater than what’s required of us by way of growing the capability of the Border Police with all of the technical tools, with all measures to counteract organized prison teams for unlawful trafficking, with good interplay with Romania, Austria, and different European international locations, with strategic cooperation with Turkey, which is an important ingredient of our exercise, Ilkov famous.
In line with a survey by Eurobarometer, offered earlier within the week by the European Fee, the vast majority of Bulgarians consider that Schengen is among the many predominant achievements of the EU – for 76% of Bulgarian members within the survey Schengen allows communication with individuals from different cultures at the start; 74% consider that the area with out border checks is useful for enterprise. Over 60% of Bulgarian members within the survey say that Schengen improves safety, and over 50% consider that within the coming years extra efforts needs to be put into guarding the EU’s exterior borders. (October 9-10)
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