Austria continues to block the entry of Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen area. A Romanian delegation traveled to Vienna on Monday to find a way out of this dire situation. “We want to know if we still have a reliable partner in Austria and if it will be possible to draw up a timetable,” explains the head of the delegation.
The aim of the talks is to “restore mutual trust and rebuild the bridges between the two states, which have been quite damaged,” said the chairman of the foreign policy committee in the Romanian Senate, Titus Corlatean, on Monday at a press conference. at the Association of Foreign Press in Vienna. The topic of migration can also be discussed, but it is important not to confuse the two topics, he stressed.
“Serious damage” vetoed by Austria
Austria’s veto against Romania’s admission to the border-free Schengen area had caused “serious damage”, and the head of the delegation complained that anti-European forces had also been fueled in the Eastern European country. In view of the four planned elections – the EU elections as well as the local, parliamentary and presidential elections – in the coming year, it is important that concrete steps are taken on the Schengen area this year, Corlatean demanded.
The economic damage for Romania due to the delayed accession to Schengen is also great, including for Austrian companies. Last but not least, the long queues of trucks waiting at the border have a negative impact on the environment, according to the Corlatean.
Discussions with Rendi-Wagner and Ludwig planned
In addition to a section head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, talks are scheduled for Monday with the chairman of the foreign policy committee of the National Council, Pamela Rendi-Wagner, the mayor of Vienna Michael Ludwig (both SPÖ), former federal president Heinz Fischer and representatives of the Romanian community in Vienna.
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.
