Austria rejected European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen’s call to lift its veto against Bulgaria and Romania joining the Schengen area, arguing that extending the visa-free zone currently makes no sense and that there is a need for more control, "Euractiv" reported. According to the Austrian government, the two countries could not effectively control their borders, which will become the EU's external borders after their Schengen accession.

Meanwhile, the Dutch government is ready to lay the matter of Bulgaria's accession to Schengen before the country's Parliament when Bulgaria shows more results, it transpired from a telephone conversation between Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov and his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte. In a report presented to the MPs in The Hague on Thursday, the Dutch cabinet draws attention to the recommendations of the European Commission on the rule of law in Bulgaria, concerning the structure and composition of the Supreme Judicial Council and the fight against corruption.

• Von der Leyen wants Bulgaria, Romania in Schengen "witout further delay"