Chancellor Karl Neuhammer defends Austria’s veto against Romania’s Schengen

The clarifications come after Vienna’s denial continued to make waves, sparking criticism and misunderstandings internationally, the daily “Die Press” reported.

The approach was a matter of Austria’s security, the chancellor reiterated, while resuming his criticism of the “flawed” EU asylum policy and accusing Austria of pressure. According to Nehhammer, he notes that the migration debate was once again driven by Austria’s veto at the EU level. News.ro.

Austria blocked Romania and Bulgaria from entering the border-free zone on Thursday, sparking a stir. Criticism was voiced not only by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbach, but also by the right-wing governments of Italy and Hungary. Also, Romania resorted to strict diplomatic measures and recalled its ambassador to Austria for consultation, writes “Die Press”.

“The EU’s failed asylum policy has caused this situation”

“There will be no (Schengen) enlargement unless the external border is effectively protected. The EU’s failed asylum policy has caused this situation. Threats and controversial arguments are being tried to increase pressure against Austria,” he said. “As long as 75,000 foreigners arrive in Eastern Austria without registration, this is a security problem and must be solved once and for all,” Nehhammer pointed out.

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From mid-November, Tunisians will not be allowed to enter Serbia without a visa, and from January the same will apply to Indians, which the Austrian chancellor hopes will stop “asylum tourism through Serbia”. Asylum requests by Tunisians “dropped drastically” after the visa waiver was suspended, he says.

Austria’s Ministry of the Interior cited several statistics to illustrate Austria’s restrictive approach. About 40 percent of the migrants arrive in Belgrade by plane and then reach Austria via Serbia and Hungary or via Serbia, Romania and Hungary with the help of smugglers. Another 40 percent come from Turkey by land to Austria via Bulgaria or Romania and Hungary.

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Similar statistics have recently been questioned by migration experts such as Judith Gollenberger, “Die Press” notes. “From a purely geographical perspective, Bulgaria is not a suitable route for visa-free travelers to Serbia. And only three percent of asylum seekers from Austria pass through Romania,” he wrote on Twitter. “Austria accusing Romania and Bulgaria, but not Hungary or Croatia, is irrational and hypocritical,” said the expert quoted by “Die Press”. The interior ministry contradicted the three percent the expert was talking about, although Romania previously accused Austria of arguing with false figures, the Austrian daily notes.

Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, also a member of the conservative ÖVP party, insisted on several radio stations Friday that Austria’s move was not a veto but a “call for help,” and the Vienna regional head of the People’s Party, Councilor Karl Mahrer, said in a statement on Saturday that Austria’s veto should be taken seriously. he asked. “A review of asylum and immigration policy in Europe is necessary. This is the only way to guarantee freedom and security as fundamental rights,” Mahrer said. “A debate about Europe’s freedom of travel and the distribution of asylum seekers in completely different social systems will lead nowhere. The extension of the Schengen system, which is not working anyway, is pointless,” he said.

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