Schengen blockade

Preparations for “decisive talks”

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner with his Romanian counterpart Cătălin Predoiu in Vienna(Bild: APA/BMI/KARL SCHOBER)

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner met his Romanian counterpart Cătălin Predoiu for a working meeting in Vienna on Monday morning. According to reports, preparations were made for a "decisive meeting" on Friday, to which the Hungarian EU Presidency has invited.

The main topics discussed were EU external border protection and the fight against organized migrant smuggling. These topics will also be discussed at the working meeting of the interior ministers from Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and Austria in Budapest on Friday. From Austria's point of view, the aim here is "to develop a joint package and to take further measures following the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to 'Schengen Air'". According to Predoiu, he is expecting "the decisive discussion" in Budapest.

Romania expects full membership by Easter
The decision on Romania's accession to the border-free Schengen area will then be taken on December 12. However, the barriers at the Romanian border checkpoints will probably only be lifted a few months later, as the corresponding software programs need to be implemented by then. He "firmly expects Romania to be a full Schengen member by Easter 2025", Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said recently. The course for this would be set at the informal meeting in Budapest on November 22. 

Karner: "Robust measures are having an effect"
Karner said on Monday: "The robust measures against the smuggling mafia have had an effect, we have massively reduced illegal migration. We are on the right path, but we have not yet reached the end of this path." That is why there will be no let-up now and further joint measures will be taken.