UPDATE 2 - Croatia to join Schengen area in 2023, Romania, Bulgaria's bids blocked

Bulgaria was backed by 25 out of 27 member states, while Romania was just one vote short, EU Commissioner for home affairs Ylva Johansson said as seen in a live video broadcast by the EU Council.

Commenting on the vote, Romanian president Klaus Iohannis said that the lack of consensus within the Justice and Home Affairs Council on Romania's Schengen accession is "profoundly unjust" for the country and its citizens.

"Romania deserved to receive a favourable vote, as confirmed by the solid data, namely by the results of recent evaluation missions of the member states and the European institutions," Iohannis said in a statement published by the presidential administration office.

"The regrettable and unjustified attitude of Austria in today's meeting risks affecting European unity and cohesion, which we need so much, especially in the current geopolitical context," the president said, adding that Schengen accession remains a strategic objective for Romania.

For his part, Romanian prime minister Nicolae Ciuca said Austria's opposition to the country's accession to the Schengen area is based on incorrect figures.

"All EU states agreed to open Romania's doors, with only one exception, Austria. Its decision is based on figures that Romania has proven to be incorrect," Ciuca said in a televised press conference.

Meanwhile, the Croatian government hailed the EU Council's decision giving green light to the country's accession to the Schengen area.

The membership in the Schengen area will bring a number of advantages for the Croatian citizens and economy, particularly with regard to free traveling and border crossing, faster and easier traffic of goods and services and further growth of the tourism traffic, the Croatian government said in a statement.

As of January 1, checks on persons at internal land and sea borders between Croatia and the other countries in the Schengen area will be lifted and Croatia will start to issue Schengen visas and will be able to make full use of the Schengen information system.

Checks at internal air borders will be lifted from March 26, 2023, given the need for this to coincide with the dates of IATA summer/winter time schedule.

Bulgaria and Romania apply the Schengen acquis partially and checks are carried out at their borders.