In response to the Austrian veto, Bulgaria imposes controls on imports from Austria and confiscates thousands of goods. Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior became embroiled in contradictions during the question-and-answer process in the parliament, writes Die Presse, as quoted by Rador Radio Romania.

Austria is the only EU country still insisting on a veto against Bulgaria and Romania. The consequences and contradictions of this measure become noticeable in the following years.

On the one hand, because of Sofia’s revenge, and on the other, because of the disclosure by the Ministry of the Interior, according to which there are still valid reasons justifying internal border checks.

Due to the preservation of the Austrian veto, Bulgaria has introduced more serious controls on goods that leave or enter Austria.(…) However, according to the Bulgarian authorities, many products that are freely distributed in the EU have not been identified according to the current regulations.

Such procedures, while justifying tighter control on the part of Austria, are certainly a reaction to the Austrian veto criticized by Sofia and Bucharest. Meanwhile, both countries have met all the criteria required by the EU Commission and feel the discrimination of being used as a political guarantee to adopt a tougher EU migration policy.

The fact that the Austrian federal government made this decision for political reasons became clear when the Ministry of the Interior said that there was no assessment of the economic damage from the measure.

Gerhard Karner also elaborated on the fact that there are no clear criteria for lifting the veto and no deadline for the full accession of the two countries: “There is no ‘road map’ and no prepared agenda.” Further steps should be discussed with the countries concerned and with the remaining member states.

Finally, Austria made it a condition for the opening of the borders to increase Frontex staff in Romania and Bulgaria, respectively, it asked for more money for external border control.

According to Neo MP Stephanie Crisper, “the timetable is just inconvenient. At first it was said that both countries were not ready. At that time, it was said that the Schengen system is “kaputt” and should not be expanded. However, Croatia was able to enter.”

In the end, a compromise was found, but now “the last reason has disappeared” – the preservation of the veto on the opening of borders.

The argument of the Ministry of Internal Affairs regarding the increase in the number of migrants is correct, it is also confirmed by experts, but Romania and Bulgaria are not to blame for this. The Balkan route is not the main route of migrants, but the central Mediterranean.

A few weeks ago, the ambassador of Romania in Vienna, Emil Hurezianu, criticized the position of the Austrian government and said to “Die Presse”: “We are always faced with new realities that we did not cause, and the solution of which is beyond our power. our hands.”

Crisper appreciates, among other things, that “the current compromise is nothing more than a shameful attempt to get out of the hole it dug itself.” (photo: Dreamstime)

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