Romanian Interior Minister Lucian Bode (Liberal Party/PNL) sent an open letter on Facebook to his Austrian colleague Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) on Monday. In it, Bode expresses Romania’s continued lack of understanding that Austria has spoken out against the country’s entry into the border-free Schengen area. In addition, Karner personally assured him at a working meeting in January that his country supported Romania’s accession to Schengen.
At the Salzburg Forum in mid-November, Austria spoke out in favor of a joint statement in which “all members expressed their approval for the extension of Schengen to Romania”. Earlier, Interior Minister Karner personally assured him at a working meeting in January that his country supported Romania’s accession to Schengen, according to the letter published on Facebook.
No one can understand the change of heart
As a result, no one in Romania could understand “what happened in two days” or between 16 and 18 November to trigger the sudden change of heart on the Austrian side. Such political games are “unworthy of a country with an established democracy and such a rich political tradition as Austria’s,” Bode wrote.
No concerns expressed at any time
The Romanian media reported this weekend, citing a report from the executive branch, that Austria’s reconsideration of the Schengen issue had effectively left authorities in Bucharest out in the cold. Between June 2021 and mid-November 2022, there were a total of 27 bilateral and multilateral meetings at various levels, with the Austrian side never raising concerns about Romania’s accession to Schengen or about a suspected migrant route through the country.
It has always been said that Austria appreciates Romania’s contribution to the protection of the EU’s external borders and therefore supports the extension of Schengen to the country, according to the government document cited by the media.
Concerns that have not been voiced through diplomatic channels
Moreover, Bucharest heard the concerns of the Austrian Federal Government about Schengen enlargement in general and Romania’s accession in particular not through diplomatic channels or official channels, but simply through the Austrian press and the reports on the November Karner statement 18th and his veto, which was threatened for the first time.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
