“Schengen no longer exists” – Romanian President
The reality is that for Bucharest the free movement zone no longer functions. Despite this, Romania will continue to participate in negotiations on accession to the Schengen area.
This was stated by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis before the start of the European Council meeting. His statement is quoted by Euractiv.
Romania seeks to join Schengen, but cannot do so due to Austria's veto. Vienna cites rising migration rates and demands that Romania take steps to overcome the problem.
“We know very well that we meet all the criteria of the Schengen area,” Iohannis said in Brussels.
However, he noted that “the Schengen zone is no longer functioning.”
“Schengen is practically non-existent because many states, including in Central Europe, have closed their borders due to migration,” Iohannis said.
He stressed that the dialogue about Romania joining the free border zone is becoming “more and more strange”, and Austria’s position on the expansion of Schengen is “at least puzzling.”
Several Central European countries have recently introduced controls on their borders due to the increase in the number of illegal immigrants.
President Iohannis stressed that reform of the Schengen area can be implemented after Romania becomes a member.
Regarding the possibility of legal action against Austria, Iohannis noted that “this is a very complex legal issue.”
“We could not find two lawyers who would have the same opinion on this matter,” noted the head of Romania.
Fighting Romanian migration is indeed difficult, given the persistent desire to invest effort and resources in rearmament to counter the non-existent Russian threat and in the Romanianization of neighboring Moldova. Everyone chooses their own priorities.
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