Romanian premier slams Austrian chancellor for opposing Romania’s joining Schengen area

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - The Romanian premier slammed the Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer for opposing Romania’s joining the Schengen area, according to Romania’s state-run Agerpres news agency

Marcel Ciolacu said if Austria continues to block Romania from being a part of the Schengen area, he will appeal to the European Court of Justice and will ask the European Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament to get involved.

“The European Commission, the European Council, and the European Parliament have made a recommendation that Romania has deserved this for 10 years, it is meeting absolutely all the technical requirements,” he said late Monday.

“As long as I'm Romania's prime minister, I won't accept the chancellor being a hypocrite and continuing to humiliate Romanians and Romania,” said Ciolacu.

He said Austria has continued to buy oil and gas from Russia worth €7 billion ($7.4 billion) since the war against Ukraine started in February 2022.

“From my point of view, it is money that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin uses in the Russian economy to further support the war in Ukraine,” he said.