On 4 December, ALDE Party Co-President Ilhan Kyuchyuk MEP joined other liberals in a demonstration in Vienna, Austria, calling on the Austrian government to end its veto on Bulgaria and Romania’s accession to the Schengen area.

The demonstration in front of the Federal Ministry of the Interior was organised by ALDE Party member NEOS in Austria and was led by co-President Kyuchyuk, ALDE Party Vice-President Dan Barna MP (USR, RO), NEOS MP Helmut Brandstätter and Vlad Botos MEP (USR, RO).

Austria has been blocking Romania and Bulgaria's accession to Schengen since last year, even though the two countries have met all the requirements for accession since 2011.

“We have met the criteria from 2011 and for us there is no alternative to the way ahead but joining the Schengen area,” said co-President Kyuchyuk.

“It is clear to us that the veto that the Austrian government has imposed serves domestic political purposes, seeking to create a ’feeling’ of security on the back of Bulgaria and Romania. Today's demonstration aims to draw the attention of Austrian society to this. Schengen is a shared objective and anyone who has the platform to speak should do so.”

“It is extremely important that Bulgaria and Romania speak together publicly on the issue, with clear and concrete messages and public pressure is needed to explain to the Austrian government that the EU's external border will be better protected and Austrian citizens will in fact be safer if Bulgaria is part of Schengen.”

🇷🇴🇧🇬 Romania and Bulgaria belong in the Schengen area! The Austrian government’s veto must end.

Our Co-President @ilhankyuchyuk, Vice-President @DanBarnaUSR and @botos_vlad MEP join the @neos_eu demonstration in Vienna today 🇪🇺#ALDEParty pic.twitter.com/XoeYpK7OiN

— ALDE Party (@ALDEParty) December 4, 2023