The vote by which Austria blocked Romania’s accession to Schengen was impossible to predict, according to Romanian Foreign Minister Bohdan Aurescu. He says Bucharest focused more on “removing the objections of states that have traditionally been against us.”

“This is a vote that appeared without the possibility of predicting. We have focused on removing the objections of states that have traditionally been against us. In the case of Austria, there was no signal until November 28. Austrian officials have always said that they have nothing against Romania. There was never any sign of resistance. These decisions were made within a very limited framework. It is clear that there was a political decision in Austria, which is not justified by what Romania would do,” Aurescu said in an interview with Digi 24.

Austria voted against expanding the Schengen area with Romania and Bulgaria at the last JAI Council on December 8-9, citing migration concerns. However, Croatia received a positive vote from Vienna.

A week later, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehhammer insists the Austrian blockade is based on the “enormous” number of migrants who have arrived in Austria this year – 100,000, of whom 75,000 are unregistered in the other countries they passed through. All this, even if Frontex data contradicts them.

“Austria’s position is that we should support Bulgaria and Romania. This is not a problem of countries against other countries, it is a security problem. We have more than 75,000 unregistered people in Austria and we know that 20,000 illegal migrants are crossing Romania. We know this as a result of the investigation conducted by the Austrian police. Now we have to find a solution to this problem,” the Chancellor of Austria said on Thursday in Brussels, where he participated in the European Council. Here, President Klaus Johannis raised the issue of the blockade of Austria.

However, the decision on Romania’s Schengen integration has been postponed until next year, at least that’s what the authorities in Bucharest hope for, and they don’t see a possible extremely quick turnaround in the situation.

“My conclusion is simple – all subjects understood that we have a problem that needs to be solved. I am optimistic and hope that during 2023 the process will be completed with a positive result for Romania and Bulgaria. I presented the fact that Romania is ready to become part of Schengen. I also said something about solidarity and unity. Romania is a frontline country when it comes to the war in Ukraine. We strive and face it. We are a frontline country for the flow of migrants. We have very good results. Romania is the country of the first line when it comes to transport lines of solidarity from Ukraine to the countries of the world,” said Klaus Iohannis on Thursday in Brussels.