Austria’s announcement that it opposes Romania’s accession to the Schengen zone sparked hundreds of critical comments on the Facebook page of the embassy in Bucharest, as well as on the page of Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehhammer.

Chancellor of Austria Karl NehhammerPhoto: Franz Perc / Alamy / Alamy / Profimedia
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On the Facebook page of the Austrian embassy in Romania, there are violent reactions to this country’s decision to block Romania’s entry into the European free movement zone.

At this point, there were over 570 critical comments. We reproduce some of them:

  • “I carefully studied the media to understand how many migrants detected by Austria came there because Romania does not protect its borders, and although I did not trust the Romanian authorities at all at first, the reasons given are not convincing. I don’t at all. Vice versa. So I made a calculation: 2000 E per year for gas at OMV + 2000 E for a ski holiday in Austria… For both, I will look for alternatives..”
  • “By blocking Romania’s entry into Schengen, Austrian politicians demonstrate that they are puppets of Putin’s Russia. Should this be Austria’s legacy in history?”.
  • “Yes, we will make sure that no more Romanian timber emigrates illegally to Austria.”
  • “If we are passive about this change as well, they will trample us all. This is the last time I will insure my car at Omniasig and fill up at Omv.”
  • “The Austrian community in Romania was negatively surprised by the country of origin’s opposition to Romania joining Schengen, because we live here, we know what the real situation is in Romania, and we don’t see hundreds of thousands of refugees passing through this country to reach Western Europe “, said Johannes Becker, who in 2007 founded the consulting company Becker Consult in Bucharest, which in 2016 became part of the TPA Romania group, which is a tax consulting, accounting, auditing and legal consulting company in Romania. He currently holds the position of partner in TPA Romania”.
  • “You can find other reasons, other than migration. It’s a shame. Find the shortest route from Turkey to Austria on Google Maps. Or from the Adriatic Sea to Vienna. It shocks you, it’s not because of Romania.”
  • “I think we’ll miss it skiing with you if we don’t join Schengen. Less often also on OMV. I hope we all boycott your companies and products. Unfortunately, you provide no evidence of justice and no example of democracy.”
  • “You were with Romania in many crisis situations, in moments when Romania was led by the PSD and especially Mr. Dragnea, then president of the PSD, who wanted to seize the political leadership of Romania. The period when they wanted to control the judicial system is over. Romania has a reliable friend and partner in Austria. Join us now and support us in joining the Schengen Area! Romania and Romanians do not betray their friends and partners! Thank you!”

Many Romanians also posted messages on the Facebook page of Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehhammer, who in recent days has firmly stated that Austria does not agree with the admission of Romania and Bulgaria to Schengen.

Some of the messages:

  • “You are a disappointment in everything that the EU stands for!”
  • “Get out of Romania with all Austrian companies!”.
  • “ÖSTERREICH…BOYCOTT”.
  • “You have a shameful attitude towards Romania. The so-called arguments you make are bogus! Look at the Balkan route if you want to see where migrants end up in Austria.”
  • “Dear sir, do you like it when you bring whole rows of wood from the forests of Romania? You like it, right? Are you now against the accession of Romania to the Schengen area? Remember that the wheel is turning. Shame on Austria!!!!”.

Romania’s accession to the Schengen zone is currently on the agenda of the JAI Council, to which our country is a member with the support of 26 EU countries, but with Austria’s right of veto. There is virtually no chance of a turnaround, given that the night before the meeting, both the Austrian interior minister and the chancellor said they had no reason to change their minds, citing 75,000 illegal migrants. in Austria, which were not previously registered in any other EU country. Decisions in the JAI Council are made unanimously.

Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner also announced Thursday during a meeting with his colleagues in Brussels that he would vote against expanding the Schengen zone to include Romania and Bulgaria, thus blocking the two countries’ EU entry. zone of free movement, reports AFP.