site.btaGerman Chancellor Reiterates Support for Bulgaria, Romania Schengen Entry

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated on Friday his support for the admission of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area. Scholz arrived on a visit to Salzburg at the invitation of Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer. He was received with military honours. After a one-on-one meeting, the two politicians held a joint press conference.

The two officials noted the good relations between the two countries and international issues such as illegal migration, the energy crisis and the war in Ukraine. One of the central topics was border control within the Schengen area and the fight against illegal migration.

In view of the large number of migrants, 75% of whom arrive in Austria without registration, Nehammer advocated for increased controls in the countries that constitute the external border of the EU and the other European countries. He stressed that Austria has launched pilot projects with Romania and Bulgaria to better secure the border and provide Europe-wide assistance to these countries. Until now, Bulgaria has been left alone to defend EU's very long external border in the fight against illegal migration, in which Bulgarian police officers have died, Nehammer pointed out. The increased flow of migrants also calls for border controls between countries in the Schengen area, which will continue until the situation eases, as Scholz noted regarding the control of the Austrian-German border.

The two leaders said they expected the new solidarity mechanism between EU countries to contribute to curbing illegal migration, as well as partnership with third countries. Scholz stressed the need for a regulated way of receiving economic migrants given the need for skilled labour.