Czechia supporting Schengen enlargement bids

The enlargement of the passport-free Schengen Area to Croatia is almost certain, but the debate on admitting Romania and Bulgaria is expected to be long and complicated, Czech Interior Minister Vít Rakušan said ahead of Thursday’s EU debate on the matter. Czechia is supporting all three bids. The extension of the free movement zone to Bulgaria and Romania, which have both met the necessary conditions, has met with strong resistance from Austria, which fears an increase in the number of migrants who have been streaming to the EU illegally via the Balkans. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner confirmed on arrival at the meeting that Vienna does not intend to support the entry of Romania and Bulgaria.