Bulgaria and Romania are taking collective action to address the concerns of Austria and the Netherlands and persuade them to withdraw their veto on the admission of the two countries to the Schengen border-free area. Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov announced this effort following a meeting with his Romanian counterpart, Marcel Ciolacu, in Bucharest. To facilitate this campaign, the interior ministries of both nations have devised action plans to tackle the obstacles in their path.

Since joining the European Union in 2007, both Bulgaria and Romania have fulfilled all the technical criteria for Schengen entry. However, their aspirations have been impeded by Austria's veto against both countries and the Netherlands' block on Bulgaria's accession, which occurred last year.

Both the Romanian and Bulgarian leaderships are now redoubling their efforts to meet all necessary requirements, especially regarding legislation and border protection, in order to alleviate any lingering concerns and demonstrate their commitment to Schengen values. Prime Minister Denkov emphasized that they are striving to address every point of criticism, leaving no room for doubt.

In support of Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen aspirations, MEPs have recently called on the Council of the European Union to finalize their admission into the border-free area by the end of 2023, underscoring that both nations have long met all the necessary conditions.

Positive developments are on the horizon, as Brussels is reportedly making preparations to include Bulgaria and Romania in the Schengen area. According to Euractiv, this inclusion will occur in two phases, starting in October of the current year. Initially, the international airports of both countries will become part of the Schengen area. Subsequently, in January 2024, Bulgaria and Romania will officially become regular members of the Schengen border-free zone.

The joint communication campaign launched by Bulgaria and Romania aims to pave the way for their well-deserved entry into the Schengen area, bringing them closer to realizing their aspirations for seamless travel and border cooperation within the European Union.