Romania continues to participate in ongoing negotiations for Schengen accession, but the reality is that the area of free movement no longer functions, President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday ahead of the European Council, according to Euractiv.
While Austria says that its opposition is not directed at Romania or Bulgaria specifically, it firmly rejects the enlargement of the Schengen area, despite Vienna’s approval of Croatia’s accession under similar circumstances.
“We know very well that we fulfil all the Schengen criteria”, Iohannis said in Brussels. However, he claimed that “the Schengen area no longer functions”.
“Schengen no longer functions and almost doesn’t exist any longer, as many states, including in Central Europe, have closed their borders, due to migration”, Iohannis said.
The dialogue becomes “more and more strange”, and Austria’s stance on Schengen expansion is “at least” perplexing.
Several states in the Central European region have recently introduced border controls.
President Iohannis emphasised that the Schengen reform – a desire shared particularly by Austria – could be done after Romania becomes a member of this area of free movement.
Regarding the possibility of legal action against Austria, Iohannis reiterated his reservations. “It is a very complicated legal matter. We couldn’t find two legal lawyers to share the same opinion on this matter”.