Karner refuses again, in front of Predoiu, Romania’s full accession to Schengen: “It would be wrong to set a concrete date”

The Austrian Minister of the Interior, Gerhard Karner, said on Tuesday that it would be wrong to set a concrete date for Romania’s land borders to join the Schengen Area, noting that he would continue the collaboration to improve the Schengen system. He says that he has nothing to reproach Romania and Bulgaria, but that the Schengen system must be improved. The statements come in the context of the visit of the Romanian Minister of the Interior Cătălin Predoiu to Vienna, after the reception of Romania in the air and maritime Schengen space. The two officials held a joint press conference at the airport.

Gerhard Karner was asked on Tuesday, in a press conference held in Vienna, what else Romania needs to enter the Schengen Area and land borders.

“I want to speak clearly that I really did not reproach Bulgaria and Romania directly. A year and a half ago I said that a system that does not work cannot be expanded. That’s why I made that decision then. Bulgaria and Romania are very important partners for Austria when it comes to putting pressure on the European Commission to improve the Schengen system. Our efforts have already borne fruit. You probably know that the director of Frontex has already announced increased operations, even the tripling of Frontex officers in these countries. We also have confirmation from the European Commission that more funds will be invested in Romania and Bulgaria for these purposes, and I believe that this is a very important step”, said the Austrian Minister of the Interior, according to News.ro.

He announced that he will continue to improve the Schengen system.

“We will continue to collaborate to improve the Schengen system. We all know that there is a great pressure of illegal migration in Europe. Therefore, we have common interests here, we have launched joint efforts precisely to strengthen this system. Currently there are other countries, members of the Schengen Area, with land border controls, because we, the ministers of the interior, are responsible for the safety of our cities. There are controls in Germany, France and Austria. We must do everything possible to fix the security situation in the European Union, to continue to guarantee freedom of movement for our citizens, but I think that at the moment it would be wrong to set a concrete date in this regard”, Gerhard Karner said. .

Predoiu: “We will make it to the end”

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Cătălin Predoiu, stated on Tuesday, in Vienna, that Romania is not the first state to enter Schengen first with one border and then with others.

“Romania is not the first state to enter Schengen in stages, first with one border and then with others. The history of the Schengen Area includes several examples in which some states entered in turn with the borders. If I am not mistaken, even Austria is in this situation. Until now, the history of Schengen does not include any example in which a state entered the Schengen Area with only one border and was left without the other borders,” said Cătălin Predoiu on Tuesday in Vienna.

He stated that Romania will make this journey to the end.

“Like the other states, we will take this road to the end. For me and my colleagues, the big question last year was not when, but what exactly we have to do to make it happen. And I do not intend to change this method. Instead of subjectively asking when the best time might be, we focus on what we need to do to get it as quickly as possible. Otherwise, Romania has fulfilled the criteria of 12 years. But the treaties are clear, the decision is political. And politics is always connected to reality. And reality is not always very easy to manage. What is important, however, is that we understand each other well and work well with our ministries and we want to continue working well on all the topics we have, with the European Commission and with the other colleagues”, said Cătălin Predoiu.

Cătălin Predoiu had a meeting in Vienna with his Austrian counterpart Gerhard Karner, about the impact and measures adopted for “Air Schengen”.

Editor: Bogdan Păcurar

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