Austria’s veto from the JAI Council, through which Romania was not admitted to the Schengen Area, cost the Romanian economy 10 billion euros annually, reported the Minister of Economy, Florin Spataru, to Digi24.
He added that it is roughly the cost that Romania has already been paying for many years, remaining outside the common traffic space, even though it has the technical skills necessary to be accepted.
“A decision that should have been technical has turned into a decision that, from my point of view, goes against that principle of solidarity that we should prove at this moment. I think there are some costs that we have been paying for many years, because, technically speaking, we have fulfilled these conditions for a very long time. You realize that these amounts that should have entered Romania’s budget are necessary. Therefore, probably the next stage will be to see how we will make sure that part of these costs are allocated to Romania, because the economy needs these funds”, he added.
The minister also said that he appealed to all ambassadors and to all states to analyze Romania’s entry into Schengen from a technical point of view, according to the conditions that were established for Schengen accession, and any decision “related to emotion or other aspects which have no relevance for our accession to the Schengen Area to be left aside”.
The European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, announced on Thursday, in Brussels, that Romania and Bulgaria were not admitted to the Schengen Area. The Commissioner for Home Affairs congratulated Croatia and the Croatian citizens on their accession and stated that Bulgaria and Romania also deserve to join the Schengen area, but failed to obtain the unanimous support necessary to join the area of free movement of persons and goods. “I would be lying if I didn’t say that I am also disappointed and I think I share this disappointment with the citizens of Romania and Bulgaria. It is the role of the Commission to be optimistic and take the next steps. We will continue to do this and I am convinced that we will obtain the accession of Romania and Bulgaria during this mandate and this will be my priority”, said the commissioner.
Rhe Council of Justice and Internal Affairs rejected the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area, two votes being negative, under the conditions in which unanimity was needed. Among the 27 EU member countries, Austria and the Netherlands voted against Romania, the latter stating that it only opposes the accession of Bulgaria, according to concordant sources from Brussels, who state, however, that discussions continue on the subject of the coupled accession of Romania and Bulgaria.
Die Welt: Spaţiul Schengen are cu totul alte probleme decât România şi Bulgaria
