Romania failed to join the Schengen Area after Austria and the Netherlands voted against it
Romania has again failed joining the Schengen Area after Austria and the Netherlands voted on Thursday at the Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA) in Brussels against the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to this area. Austria officially announced, through the voice of its Minister of the Interior, that it opposes the accession of Romania and Bulgaria. The Netherlands voted together to reject Romania and Bulgaria, although it supported Romania, but the decoupling of the two countries proved impossible, reports G4media.ro.
"I am disappointed and I think I share the disappointment with the citizens of Romania and Bulgaria," said European Commissioner Ylva Johansson. On the other hand, Croatia received a unanimous vote and will enter Schengen from January 1, 2023, according to an announcement by the President of Croatia. As a result of the vote, controls at Croatia's land borders with other Schengen member states will cease from 1 January 2023, while controls at airports will cease from 26 March 2023, when airline schedules change.
