Freedom of Movement for All: Bulgaria and Romania belong in the Schengen Area
On 8 December 2022, the Council of the European Union deliberated the joining of Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania in the Schengen Area. Croatia was unanimously accepted, however, the application of Bulgaria and Romania was vetoed by the governments of Austria and the Netherlands.
Our member organisations recognise that Bulgaria and Romania have worked hard to fulfil the necessary joining requirements that were previously agreed upon. When they finally managed to meet those goals, the response of the Council of the European Union was to deny them their rightful place in the Schengen area by virtue of two member states vetoing their accession.
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