Austria offered during negotiations within the Council of Justice and Internal Affairs several options for postponing Romania’s entry into Schengen until next year, provided that our country does not insist on a vote at Thursday’s meeting, official sources said.

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All member states were consulted in the JAI Council on the intention to vote on the accession of Romania and Bulgaria from 1 January with land borders and from 26 March with air borders, and on this occasion Austria opposed the accession of both countries, while the Netherlands opposed only Bulgaria.

In this context, Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusen found that there was no unanimity and asked for a break to try to reach a compromise, according to official sources quoted by Agerpres. Representatives of the European Commission, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Bulgaria and Romania took part in the consultations.

Options proposed by Austria

The first option offered by Austria was to make a decision next year, in September or October, on the condition that Thursday’s vote does not take place again, an option rejected by Romania.

He then made a separate proposal for Bulgaria to go through the conditionality process, including the MCV. In practice, this option meant that Romania would join Schengen this year without fulfilling other conditions, and Bulgaria next year with those conditions. Bulgaria, however, refused this option, the quoted sources say.

A third option, proposed by Austria, was a decision in June, which would mean a simultaneous vote and a border increase. It was also a condition that Romania would not insist on Thursday’s vote in the JAI Council. This option was rejected by Romania.

Compromise options, supported by Romania in the JVS and rejected

In practice, Romania put forward only one option it would agree not to vote on Thursday, which is to adopt a statement that a decision on accession will be made by the end of the year, possibly at the next Council of Ministers in December. 21 , as point A, without discussion. This option would involve entry into Schengen with an air border on March 26, and a road border later. However, Austria rejected this counter-offer.

Under these conditions, Romania demanded separation from Bulgaria, but the neighboring state was against it, and the new item could not be included in the agenda. Finally, Romania asked for a vote, Austria voted against the accession of Romania and Bulgaria, and the Netherlands only against Bulgaria.

Explaining the vote, Dutch Minister Erik van der Burgh wanted to clarify that the vote was deserved and that if it was a separate decision in the case of two states, the Netherlands would have voted for Romania.

According to sources cited, a Spanish representative would say at the meeting that the vote had destroyed the unity of the EU, while a Polish minister said it was unacceptable for two member states to be bullied for 11 years.

What else can be done

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.

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. (Photo: Dreamstime.com)