Will Austria's Freedom Party Block Bulgaria and Romania from Joining Schengen?

Since late 2022, Bulgaria and Romania have been primarily focused on Austria regarding their inclusion in the Schengen Agreement. This agreement, initiated in 1985, allows for border-free travel across Europe. However, Austria's unexpected veto halted the EU's plan to incorporate both countries into the Schengen zone. The Austrian government, particularly the People's Party within the Black-Green coalition, cited concerns over an influx of migrants entering Austria via Bulgaria and Romania. This stance faced criticism from much of Europe, including Austria's junior coalition partner, the Greens.

In response to these objections, Austria softened its position earlier this year by lifting entry controls for air and sea traffic on March 31. Despite this, both Bulgaria and Romania continue to report significant economic losses due to waiting times at land borders. As a result, Sofia and Bucharest are closely monitoring Austria's political developments, hoping for a government shift that might support their Schengen entry.

However, hopes have dimmed with the rise of Austria's Freedom Party. Just before the election, the party announced a new strategy to reduce migrant pressure, focusing on border controls and deportations, driven more by populist rhetoric than practical concerns. Austria has maintained border controls with Germany since 2015, despite Germany accepting asylum seekers mainly from Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, all entitled to refugee status. Countries like the Czech Republic and Poland have hosted a higher proportion of refugees than Germany. Bulgaria has also complied with accepting returned migrants, although their numbers remain low, not due to Bulgarian resistance but Germany's handling of the situation. Austria, however, remains...