Romania’s accession to the Schengen area “remains a priority for the next period”, President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday, without specifying what “Next period” actually meant in a context in which Austria’s chancellor and interior minister recently said Vienna continued to oppose acceptance Romania into the European free movement zone.

Klaus Iohannis made these statements on Tuesday in Cotroceni, where he received heads of diplomatic missions, heads of consular institutions and directors of cultural institutes of Romania on the occasion of the Annual Meeting of Romanian Diplomacy.

In a speech in which he spoke about the consequences of the war started by Russia and about the support that Romania provides to Ukraine, Iohannis said that “Romania’s place in the Schengen area”:

• “The accession of Romania to the Schengen zone remains a priority for the next period. Romania’s place is in the Schengen area, and this goal must be achieved both on the basis of our recognized results and as a confirmation of the fact that the Union is able to respond to the needs of increased cohesion, stability and security.
• Especially in the current context, there is a need for loyal cooperation on a constructive basis and consolidation of the Union without fragmentation within it. You must send the message that Romania is clearly part of the solution and makes a direct and tangible contribution to the security of the Union. Despite all this, we have a legitimate expectation from all our European partners to show solidarity.”

Minister of Internal Affairs of Austria: “Now it is not advisable to expand the Schengen zone”

Vienna does not give up and continues to keep Romania at the door of Schengen. “Austria’s position is clear: the entire Schengen system does not work, so we are not open to its expansion,” Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said last Wednesday. He made these statements at the end of a conversation with the Minister of the Interior of Romania, Catalin Preda, who visited Vienna.

The Austrian official’s message was “very clear”: Austria does not support the extension of the Schengen area, further stating that “the system as a whole does not work”.

Asked if Austria would change its position before the fall parliamentary elections, Gerhard Karner said Vienna’s veto had “nothing to do” with the election: “We are responsible for guaranteeing the safety of the population, and it is not about parliamentary elections.”

“It is important to continue our work, and one day we will also achieve a result”, – said, for his part, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Romania, Catalin Predou.

Predoiu also said that “Austria has no problems with Romania”: “The Romanian police is doing its job and we are ready to continue this work together. We will support Austria, the EU and member states to reform asylum procedures.”

The interior minister also said that he traveled to Vienna to check if there were any complaints related to the way Romania defends its borders and that he was “pleased” to note that “Austria also sees these successes achieved by Romania, on all issues. programs that have them” to strengthen border security.

On August 18, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer also stated at a press conference with Olaf Scholz that Vienna is still determined to block the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen zone, Austrian media reported. A year and a half after taking office, the German Chancellor made his first official visit to Austria on August 18.

Regarding Austria’s attempt to block the entry of Romania and Bulgaria into the European free movement area, the Austrian chancellor said at a joint press conference with the German chancellor that “now, for the first time, in the European Union more considering the great migration challenges of Bulgaria due to its particularly long border with Turkey”. – write Volksblat and Die Presse.

However, Karl Nehhammer noted that this does not mean that Austria will change its position on blocking Romania and Bulgaria in Schengen.

For his part, Olaf Scholz confirmed Germany’s position on supporting the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the European free movement zone.