The Future of the Schengen Area: Exploring its Enlargement

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Datum/Zeit
November 7, 2023
18:30 - 20:00 MESZ/MEZ


IDM Seminar Room, Hahngasse 6/Mezzanin/17, A-1090 Wien 

The Schengen area is one of the greatest achievements of European integration. But the area of free movement survives only when trust and solidarity prevail over conjunctural national interests among member states. While Croatia was admitted to the Schengen area as of 1st January 2023, Romania and Bulgaria – both meeting the requirements – are still waiting for their accession. The European Parliament and the overwhelming majority of member states repeatedly stressed the relevance of concluding the enlargement of the Schengen area by the end of 2023 and in her recent State of the European Union address, also President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of Bulgaria and Romania joining the Schengen zone.  

This panel will discuss the prospects for enlarging the Schengen zone after the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council, scheduled for October 2023. It will discuss the impact of denying Schengen accession on the population of Bulgaria and Romania – especially on young people. Additionally, it will examine the current challenges in the zone, such as the increased flows of migrants and refugees and border controls inside the zone.  

The discussion will cover the following aspects: 

  • How does the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen zone contribute to strengthening, rather than weakening, the overall security framework in Europe? 
  • Between concerns about migration and a labour market relying consistently on Romanian and Bulgarian care workers – how can some member states’ veto be comprehended, and what could Bucharest and Sofia do on the diplomatic front to change the position of the blocking MS?  
  • Could, if it would be the case, another veto against the Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria fuel anti-European sentiments in the countries, especially among young voters? 

 

PROGRAM 

Opening remarks

Friedrich Faulhammer, Chairman, Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM) 

Speakers

H.E. Daniel Glunčić, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Croatia  

H.E. Emil Hurezeanu, Ambassador, Embassy of Romania  

H.E. Desislava Naydenova-Gospodinova, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria

Tom Snels, Head of Unit, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, Deputy

Director-General in charge of Schengen & Internal Security, European Commission

Georg Stillfried, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Austria 

Led by

Sebastian Schäffer, Director, Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM) 

The goal of the event is to build and enhance engagement and participation of EU citizens and deepen knowledge and awareness about the EU among citizens. 

 

Refreshments will be served after the discussion with the kind support of the Embassy of Romania in Vienna

 

Due to limited seat availability, please register by 3 November 2023 (registration has been closed).

The discussion is implemented in a framework EUact2-“Towards Democratic and Inclusive Europe: EP Elections and Active Citizens Participation and Contribution” project that  aims to build a sustained level of citizens’ activism, especially among young people, so their voices are better represented in the European policymaking. It is funded by the European Union. 

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