Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced today that he will vote against the expansion of the Schengen zone to Romania and Bulgaria at the meeting of European Union interior ministers in Brussels, effectively vetoing the two countries' entry into the free movement zone.
On the contrary, interior ministers are expected to unanimously approve Croatia's accession to the Schengen area.
However, the interior ministers of France and Germany have stated that they support the inclusion of Croatia, Romania, and Bulgaria in the free movement zone.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin told reporters ahead of the Brussels meeting that Paris was in favor of the three countries joining.
«France considers that these three countries have made very significant efforts... there is nothing serious to argue against their accession,» said Gérald Darmanin.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told reporters in Brussels that Berlin supports the three countries' application for membership and added that she does not share Vienna's negative stance.
«I cannot understand Austria's position on this issue. I know that there is internal debate on this issue in Austria. We will support Croatia, Romania, and Bulgaria, all three of them,» he said.
