Austria left Romania at the Schengen border. Vienna spoke at the JAI Council against the accession of our country to the free movement zone. What can be done now?

According to sources close to the discussions at the European level, the most realistic moment for a favorable decision for Romania could be the JAI council in the spring.

This issue can also be discussed at the European Council next week, where a position favorable to Romania can be established, but it cannot impose it on the JAI ministers. In theory, an emergency council could be convened, but given Austria’s objections, it is likely that things will change, the same sources told HotNews.ro.

“It is important to resolve the problem with Austria, and in this context, a realistic deadline could be the JAI Council in March,” the cited sources said.

At the moment, the support of the European Commission, 26 states and the promise of the presidency of Sweden, which has expressed its support for Romania’s accession to Schengen, is important.

Even Viktor Orbán never spoke like Karl Nehammer

According to the cited sources, regional elections in Austria at the end of January are also important. Hence Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s absolutely inflexible position.

“From the very beginning it was clear that he did not want a solution. His speech was as follows: Austria’s security is at risk, I am elected in Austria, in order to succeed, I must attack the European Commission. His party is in trouble, polls show migration as the top issue ahead of inflation and war. Its positioning is for internal consumption. I have never seen such a Eurosceptic speech by the Prime Minister from the EPP in the EPP, as the speech of the Chancellor of Austria. Viktor Orbán never said that,” the quoted source commented.

Austria blocked Romania’s accession to Schengen in the JAI Council on Thursday. The Netherlands, which opposed Bulgaria’s entry, also voted against, as the vote was cast as a “package” for the two countries.