The “veto” against the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen zone endangers Austria’s good reputation in Eastern Europe, writes Die Presse, citing Rador.

Federal Chancellor Karl Nehhammer and Interior Minister Gerhard Karner opposed the accession of the two EU member states Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area and thus the possibility to travel to and from other EU countries without passport control.

The decision on the expansion of the Schengen area will be made on December 8 during the meeting of the EU interior ministers. At this point – so far it seems – Austria will block the entry of the two countries with its veto. Thus, Vienna will abandon its traditional role as a promoter of the integration of Eastern Europe into the European Union.

It is obvious that the position of the Federal Chancellor and the Minister of the Interior is motivated only by fear, namely the fear of succumbing to populist attacks from the FPÖ (Freedom Party of Austria), since no rational explanation for their position can be found, writes Die press