EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson told journalists in Luxembourg on Thursday that the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU prioritizes the lifting of Schengen land border controls for Bulgaria and Romania. "I am confident that a decision will be made this year, and I hope it will be taken before the end of my mandate," the Commissioner said.
"That was a decision that we managed at the late hours of the Spanish Presidency, so they are part of Schengen, but we still need to lift internal border controls, and this is what I perceive will happen this year," Johansson added.
She spoke to the media after a meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council - the last under the Belgian Presidency. Between July and December, the rotating Presidency of the EU Council will be held by Hungary. Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden said that ministers had not adopted a statement regarding the Schengen Area's operations because the document was not yet ready for approval. "We strongly believe that we need a full operational Schengen zone. No internal checks, of course guaranteeing the security of our European citizens and having strong outside border control," said Verlinden.
Belgian State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Nicole de Moor emphasized that most asylum applications in the EU come from migrants who arrive on visas rather than illegally. She called for stricter rules to address this issue and suggested suspending or terminating visa facilitation for uncooperative countries of origin.
Bulgaria and Romania joined the Schengen area on March 31, 2024, when air and maritime internal border controls were lifted.
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