After Austria’s veto against Romania’s and Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen, Romanian President Klaus Johannis continued to apply pressure on Tuesday. During his annual meeting with the accredited ambassadors, he stressed that his country’s “well-deserved Schengen accession” remains the top priority.
Romania will make every effort to join the border-free Schengen area in the current year, especially as the country is “part of the solution to the current security problems,” he said.
Cracked diplomatic relationship with Austria
Johannis expressly thanked all the states that supported Romania in this project of his – we continue to count on their support. Austria vetoed the extension of Schengen in December.
Regarding Russia’s war of aggression in neighboring Ukraine, the Romanian leader said his country still wants to take a “comprehensive and multi-dimensional” approach and will do its utmost to support both Ukraine and Moldova – “for as long as it takes”.
This also applies to the efforts of the two neighboring countries to get closer to the European Union and/or the Euro-Atlantic security structures – the authorities in Kyiv and Chisinau have already confirmed this.
No “easy year” 2023
Furthermore, Johannis stressed that 2023 was not expected to be an “easy year” – this would undoubtedly again test “our ability to respond to provocations and, above all, our ability to remain united and in solidarity”. Nevertheless, he hopes that 2023 will make an important contribution to a “stronger and more resilient EU” that radiates stability and can meet the challenges of the future, said the Romanian head of state.
Source: Krone
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