Edtstadler connects Schengen expansion with asylum policy

Europe Minister Caroline Edstadler (ÖVP) has linked Austria’s approval of Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen to progress in EU migration policy.

she said in an interview with APA.

Edstadler noted that in January, with the assumption of Sweden, a country that holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union “has been tried and tested at the same time when it comes to immigration. Here I expect that this topic will also remain high on the agenda.”

multiple conditions

A Schengen decision will not be delayed until the whole asylum package has been decided at the EU level with many legal procedures, as this will take some time. But you need to take these steps step by step and make a plan. Hence we can talk well about the expansion of Schengen to Bulgaria and Romania.

The Minister for Europe demanded that “the opportunity to apply for asylum in safe third countries is essential.” “Moreover, there is a need for pilot projects to quickly handle asylum procedures at the EU’s external borders – and of course financial support for countries geographically located at the external borders.”