The Romanian president, Klaus Iohannis, announced this Wednesday that he will resume diplomatic efforts at the European Council this Thursday for the country’s accession to the Schengen area, after the Austrian veto prevented entry in 2023.
“I can tell you that I will have many talks and will raise this issue in the Council plenary. I will explain once and for all why Romania should be part of the Schengen area,” Iohannis said, warning that no progress can be expected. in that direction at Thursday’s meeting in Brussels.
“Practical solutions will be found at the next Justice and Home Affairs Council,” said the Romanian president, six days after Romania and Bulgaria failed to achieve the necessary unanimity to join Schengen at the last meeting of the Union’s interior ministers. European (EU).
In his speech this Wednesday, Iohannis also ruled out that the Romanian authorities are considering declaring a boycott of Austrian companies present in the country, in response to the refusal of the Vienna government to allow Romania to enter the European area of free movement of people. people and goods.
“There will be no boycott of Austria by the state or public authorities,” Iohannis said, after Romanian politicians called on Romanian public companies and the Romanian administration to stop contracting the services of Austrian companies.
Despite Iohannis’ dovish stance, Romanian Interior Minister Sorin Grindeanu announced on Tuesday that companies belonging to the ministry will close their accounts at BCR bank, owned by Austrian group Erste, and transfer their money to Romanian bank CEC.
Romania recalled its ambassador in Vienna last week in protest of Austria’s stance on its Schengen membership aspirations. Austria vetoed Romania and Bulgaria from entering space on the grounds that the two countries do not control illegal immigration at their borders.
Romania and Bulgaria deny this statement, pointing out that the European Commission has repeatedly requested their admission to Schengen and qualifying the veto as “unjustified”, attributing it to internal political reasons in Austria.
Source: TSF
