Romanian EU lawmaker Eugen Tomac (PMP/EPP) said he would appeal the EU Court of Justice’s decision rejecting his case against Austria’s Council veto on Romania and Bulgaria’s Schengen bid, according to Euractiv.
Because the EU court also delved into the substantive aspects, Tomac is convinced “we have the right to appeal” and “let’s hope that the future panel of judges will address this issue in a more complex and detailed way, in line with the EU Treaties and the Schengen agreements”.
Such an approach is unprecedented, said Tomac, who has the status of a “non-privileged plaintiff”. This is why he has already called on the Romanian government, the European Commission and the European Parliament to intervene in this process.
Despite his request, the Commission acknowledged the validity of his claims but chose not to participate, while the Romanian Government also refrained from intervening.
He further appealed to all member states to join the process. “Only a few states expressed interest without active intervention”.
If Schengen accession for Romania and Bulgaria is not on the agenda for the next Council meeting in December, ”the Romanian government will have the opportunity to challenge this blockade”. “This intervention could no longer be rejected as inadmissible, as the Romanian state holds the status of a privileged plaintiff”, he added.
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu declined to comment on the EU court ruling but reiterated that diplomacy would be used to correct the “totally unfair and incorrect” opinion expressed by Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer.