Friday, December 9, 2022

Romania and Bulgaria were denied access to the Schengen area due to Austrian and Dutch veto

Austria has not given up on its position and blocked Romania’s accession to the European free movement area. The Netherlands, which opposed Bulgaria’s accession, also voted against, as there was no separation of files. Instead, Croatia received a positive vote and will enter the Schengen Area from next year. The topic of Romania and Bulgaria’s accession might be included, at the request of the President of Romania, on next week’s European Council agenda, where a position favorable to our country could be reached, but, nevertheless, it could not be imposed on the Interior Ministers in the Justice and Home Affairs Council. The principles underlying the European Union and the creation of the space of freedom, security and justice were overshadowed by Austria’s internal political interests, the Romanian Interior Minister, Lucian Bode has said.
Lucian Bode: The vote against the proposal of the Czech presidency is not a vote against Romania, it is a vote against the European Union as a whole and against our unity, and, unfortunately, this will please some non-EU actors. In its long history, Romania has suffered many injustices. Most of the time, Russia has put its shoulder to their accomplichment. We feel that Russia is about to enjoy yet another injustice, which is done to Romania. Our efforts will not stop until Romania receives its place among the great European family.

The Romanian Ambassador to Austria has been recalled for consultations

The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed that, in light of Austria’s position to veto Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area, at Thursday’s Council of Justice and Home Affairs, the Ambassador of Romania in the Republic of Austria, Emil Hurezeanu, was summonned to the country for consultations, at the request of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu. The management of the Romanian Embassy in Vienna will be provided at the level of ad interim charge d’affairs. In line with diplomatic procedures, the Romanian side’s decision is a political gesture that emphasizes Romania’s position of firm disagreement with Austria’s conduct and indicates the decision to downgrade the current level of relations with this state.

The Gaudeamus Radio Romania Book Fair is entering its third day at Romexpo Complex in Bucharest

The Gaudeamus Radio Romania Book Fair continues to delight reading lovers with valuable works and literary events. One of the books released yesterday was the volume „Strategic partnership Romania – USA: 25. Security guarantee for Romania in the 3rd millennium”, by Laura Ganea. The former president Emil Constantinescu has said that the volume presents decisive moments for understanding the history of our country.
Emil Constantinescu: Clinton came to Bucharest prepared with two speeches and was going to choose between them depending on the attitude he would be received with. The attitude was not hostile, but it was cautious because the United States had voted that Romania should not to be in the first wave of NATO’s accession. But what he had not explained was that, in fact, the strategic partnership offered to Romania was more important than joining NATO. Today, even the dumbest Romanian should know that, it was the strategic partnership that envisaged security guarantees which not even NATO could offer. It places Romania among Poland, Turkey and Israel – countries for which the United States would immediately intervene militarily when their security is threatened.
The Gaudeamus Radio Romania Book Fair is unfolding until Sunday at Romexpo and entry is free. The full schedule of events is available on the Gaudeamus.ro website./mbrotacel