The Romanian Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, summoned the Austrian ambassador to Bucharest, Adelheid Folie, on Thursday evening to the MFA headquarters to convey the MFA’s protest against “Austria’s unjustified and unfriendly attitude”, which will have inevitable consequences on bilateral relations.
“The Austrian ambassador was told that Vienna’s negative vote is all the more surprising in the context of the existence of long diplomatic relations, with a tradition of over 100 years, between our countries, as well as substantial bilateral cooperation, especially in the economic field – Austria being one of Romania’s most important economic partners and the second foreign investor on the Romanian market”, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The ambassador was also sent the firm protest against the accusations expressed by the Austrian authorities regarding the so-called pressure on Austrian companies, statements which are inadmissible, not being in accordance with reality,” the press release also notes.
At the same time, the MAE strongly rejects as totally inadmissible Austria’s position to vote negatively on the Decision regarding Romania’s accession to the Schengen area today, December 8, 2022, within the Justice and Internal Affairs Council (JHA). Austria has singularized and self-isolated within the European Union.
The Ministry considers that this result is completely unfair and devoid of any objective motivation, especially given that Romania acted with openness and transparency in the relationship with all European partners, including Austria, and the degree of readiness of our country in applying the provisions of the acquis Schengen has been repeatedly confirmed by EU and member state experts, most recently during the two evaluation missions that took place in October and November 2022.
“Unfortunately, Austria decided to ignore all these elements through the negative vote expressed today, in flagrant contradiction with the favorable position expressed by the other member states and despite the intense political-diplomatic efforts carried out by the Austrian side, at all levels, through which the Romanian side presented to the Ministry of the Interior and the other authorities in Austria convincing, realistic and relevant arguments, both regarding the level of technical training and and concrete elements regarding the protection of the external border of the EU“, the press release also states.
However, the Austrian press reported on Friday that the Austrian ambassador in Bucharest was not handed any note of protest from the Romanian side, and the minister Bogdan Aurescu did not participate in the talks at the MAE, but a secretary of state.
The Austrian Foreign Ministry confirmed Folie’s “invitation”. However, nothing was given to him,” writes the publication Vienna.at, citing the Austrian press agency, APA.