Romania will attack Austria in the European Court of Justice and seek compensation if the Austrian government continues to insist on vetoing Romania’s accession to the Schengen area. This was announced by the Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Cholaku in an interview with “Der Standard”, quoted by the Romanian media.
In it, he notes that the damage caused to the country by the Austrian blockade is estimated to be at least 2% of GDP, i.e. several billion euros.
“It is not possible to demand security at the European level and at the same time reject a fundamental right of Romania such as that of joining the Schengen area,” Çolaku said.
He defined as “false” the statement of Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehamar that there is very active migration through Romania.
“Together with Serbia, we have introduced joint control to move this topic from the center of discussions. But in the event that Chancellor Nehammer unjustifiably uses his right of veto again, I, as Prime Minister, will have to appeal Austria’s decision to the European Court of Justice to request compensation for the losses caused by the non-accession,” Çolaku is emphatic.
According to him, Austria has set a precedent and this is the worst.
“Usually, the member countries follow the recommendations of the institutions of the European Union. Croatia applied for membership four or five years ago. Romania and Bulgaria could have blocked the accession, but we didn’t,” noted Çolaku.
Asked by the newspaper about the strategy he will use, the Romanian Prime Minister commented:
“Spain, as president of the Council of the EU, supports the accession of Romania to the Schengen area and makes sure that this topic is on the agenda again – in October or on December 4 or 5 within the framework of the Council of Interior Ministers of the EU. All other countries – with the exception of Austria – support Romania’s accession”.
He did not reject the media’s claim that Austria pays Russia “blood” money (“Blutgeld”), as the former Secretary General of the European Commission, Martin Zellmeier, recently put it.
“Romania has learned its lesson a long time ago and is therefore no longer dependent on Russian gas,” noted Cholaku, quoted by BTA.
2023-09-15 09:02:00
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