Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu stated in an interview for Der Standard that Romania will sue Austria at the European Court of Justice for compensation if Vienna maintains its veto regarding Romania’s accession to the Schengen area.
In an interview given to the Austrian publication Der Standard, quoted by Rador, Marcel Ciolacu stated that Romania lost two percent of its GDP due to Austria’s veto.
Marcel Ciolacu declared that Romania will attack Austria at the European Court of Justice if it uses the veto on Schengen again in October or December, when this topic will again be on the agenda of the EU Council of Interior Ministers.
Asked what strategy will he approach to convince the Austrian chancellor to give up the veto against Schengen accession, Ciolacu said that Chancellow Nehammer is not right when stating there is a high migration inflow through Romania.
“Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer informed us only a few days before the EU Council meeting that he will not support Romania’s accession. This led to frustrations among the authorities and the Romanian population. What I also cannot accept is the statement according to which the veto would be related to the electoral campaign in Austria. Spain, as president of the EU Council, supports Romania’s accession to the Schengen area and makes sure that this topic is on the agenda again – either in October or on December 4 or 5 within the Council of EU Interior Ministers . All other states – except Austria – support Romania’s accession. It is also not true what Nehammer claims, namely that there is a very active migration through Romania. We have also introduced, together with Serbia, joint controls to remove this topic from the center of discussions. However, if Chancellor Nehammer makes unjustified use of the veto again, I, as Prime Minister, will have to appeal Austria’s decision to the European Court to claim compensation for the losses caused by non-accession,” Ciolacu said.
Questioned how expensive could such a complaint be for Austria, the Romanian PM replied: “Enough! According to our calculations, the damage amounts to at least two percent of GDP. But the worst thing is that Austria has set a precedent. Normally, the member states follow the recommendations of the EU institutions. Croatia applied for membership about 4-5 years ago. Romania and Bulgaria could have blocked the accession, but we did not do so.”
Also asked if PSD could make an alliance with extremist party AUR after the next year’s elections, Ciolacu firmly denied.
“As long as I am the president of the PSD, as well as in 2024, I will continue to speak for a coalition with the PNL. I do not accept an alliance with AUR. But Chancellor Nehammer will have to understand and know – just like me – that we, the politicians, only occupy positions and positions for a limited time. We currently have only one aggressor in Europe and that is why now would have been the most favorable moment to demonstrate solidarity within the EU. Austria is as neutral as the Republic of Moldova. You cannot claim security at the European level and expect that together with Romania and other EU member states you will become part of the Sky Shield project, i.e. watch how Romania financially strives to strengthen European defense, but at the same time deny Romania a right fundamental as accession to Schengen!”
A last! This is an excellent move. If this does not infuse the logic in the Austrians, then Boycotting in Romania will start. They can choose.