Romania’s Prime Minister on Friday said the country would sue Austria at the European Court of Justice if it continues to veto its bid to join the Schengen Zone.
In an interview with Austrian newspaper Der Standard, Marcel Ciolacu said he would take the action after the Austrian government reiterated its opposition to including Romania and Bulgaria in the passport-free zone. He said if it blocks Romania again, Romania will sue the central European country.
Ciolacu said damages caused to Romania „amount to at least two percent of GDP,” several billion euros. repeating what his transport minister said earlier this month.
Last year, the Council blocked the countries’ entry following opposition from Austria and the Netherlands, as the debate about their accession became embroiled in a discussion about migration along the Western Balkan route.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday said Bulgaria and Romania should be admitted to the EU’s free-movement zone „without any further delay.”
„They have proved it: Bulgaria and Romania are part of our Schengen area,” von der Leyen said in her State of the Union address, adding: „So let us finally bring them in — without any further delay.”
Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg says his country remains opposed to extending Schengen membership to Bulgaria and Romania because of concerns about migration.
Romanian transport operators have complained that the delay dealt a blow to their industry, resulting in long lines at the border and delivery delays.
