Law enforcement in Europe

Romania's Schengen accession on March 31 brings about notable changes at Bucharest's Henri Coanda International Airport as Austrian officers will collaborate with Romanian counterparts in passport and document scrutiny. The collaboration aims to enhance border security and streamline identity verification processes for travelers entering the Schengen zone.

The Customs Agency of Bulgaria has intensified scrutiny on all goods entering and exiting Austria, implemented across checkpoints and territory, aligning with the country's commitment to Austria and Schengen entry obligations.

Proposals for changes to the Asylum and Refugee Act, concerning Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen zone, are now available for public feedback on the Council of Ministers' Public Consultation Portal.

Croatia has achieved an unprecedented milestone, becoming the first country to simultaneously join both the eurozone and the Schengen area on January 1, 2023. However, this historic move has sparked mixed sentiments within the nation.

Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov from Bulgaria's Border Police addressed recent developments regarding Bulgaria's Schengen entry and the evolving migrant situation in Europe.

The Council of the European Union's decision to welcome Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen zone by air and water starting March 31, 2024, has been formally published in the Official Journal of the EU. This momentous announcement marks a significant milestone for both nations, signifying their long-awaited accession into the Schengen community.

Razvan Nicolescu, a Romanian analyst, expressed strong criticism against Austria's government, accusing it of adopting anti-European behaviors during discussions about Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen area accession. In an interview with Bulgaria's National Radio (BNR), Nicolescu highlighted concerns about Austria's conditions that deviate from Schengen criteria.

Transport Minister Georgi Gvozdeikov revealed Bulgaria's prospects for full Schengen membership, linking it to the impending adoption of the euro. Gvozdeikov anticipates a lift in land border controls as the country aims for full Schengen integration by the year's end, coinciding with the projected euro adoption in 2025.

Kostadin Kostadinov, the leader of Bulgaria's nationalist pro-Russian Vazrazhdane (Revival) party, strongly opposes Bulgaria signing the EU Migration Pact, cautioning that it could transform the country into a sprawling refugee camp.

The Austrian government has specified five prerequisites for potentially lifting checks at Schengen land borders for Bulgarian and Romanian citizens, as detailed in a statement released after the European Council's decision to open air and sea borders for both countries on December 29.