The possibility of suing Austria if it again opposes Romania’s accession to the Schengen area “must be analyzed very carefully”, President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday, after the prime minister took Austria to the European Court of Justice for compensation. if he leaves his veto.

Klaus Johannis and Marcel CholakuPhoto: Inquam Photos / George Calin
  • “This approach must be analyzed very well, and if a solution is possible in this way, then we will know exactly what this possibility is,” the head of state, present at the UN General Assembly, told the Romanian press. .

It will be recalled that Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said in an interview with Der Standard that Romania will sue Austria in the European Court of Justice for damages if Vienna maintains its veto at the JAI Council in December.

  • “I also cannot accept the statement according to which the veto will be connected with the election campaign in Austria. Spain, as president of the EU Council, supports Romania’s accession to the Schengen area and is making sure that the topic is on the agenda again – either in October or on December 4 or 5 within the framework of the EU Council of Interior Ministers. All other states except Austria support Romania’s accession. It is also not true what Nehammer claims, namely that there is a very active migration through Romania.
  • We have also introduced joint controls with Serbia to remove this topic from the center of discussion. However, if Chancellor Nehammer uses the veto again unjustifiably, I, as Prime Minister, will have to challenge Austria’s decision at the European Court of Justice to demand compensation for the damages caused by the non-accession,” Čolaku said.

Interior Minister Katalin Predoiu called Čolak’s intention to sue Austria a “premature idea”.

Predou says the solution will be “diplomatically” and that Romania “has the assets and a real chance to make progress”, but without moving the deadline.