Austria will not veto the full accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen free trade zone, the government announced, with the Alpine country dropping long-standing objections over migration concerns, AFP reports.
"We will not use our veto right" at Thursday's meeting of EU interior ministers, where the issue is expected to be discussed, a spokesman for the interior ministry said.
The Council of the European Union put the issue of Bulgaria and Romania's full Schengen membership as the first item on its agenda.
The Justice and Home Affairs Council will meet this Thursday, 12 December.
BGNES recalls that the ambassadors of the EU member states have already reached a preliminary agreement on the draft decision to abolish checks at internal land borders.
Bulgaria and Romania joined Schengen, by air and water, in March 2024, but land border checks remained. On 22 November, Austria signed an agreement with Bulgaria and Romania to join Schengen fully from 1 January next year. | BGNES
