Romania and Bulgaria play an important role in curbing illegal migration to Europe, says Romanian President Klaus Iohannis. He believes that both countries will be absorbed into the Schengen Zone by the end of the year.
Reuters reports that both countries have rejected Austrian claims that they are a pathway for illegal migrants into Europe after having been kept out of the Schengen area late last year due to concerns from the Austrian government around unauthorised immigration.
"Illegal migration is only artificially mixed into the Schengen issue," Iohannis says. "We are doing and will do everything we can to curb illegal migration. However, we expect that our right to be a part of Schengen is recognised, and we hope to receive a positive vote this year."
But Chancellor of Austria, Karl Nehammer, says the Schengen system is beset with illegal migration problems and thus cannot expand at all for the time being. “It is clear that our Schengen veto is not directed against a country, but that the Schengen area does not work and cannot be expanded at the moment,” he says, according to Schengen Visa Info.
Meanwhile, Romanian Minister of the Interior, Lucian Bode, maintains that contrary to Austria’s misgivings, the security of the EU and Schengen borders would be greatly increased if Romania joined the Schengen Zone.
