Marcel Ciolacu spoke on Monday evening, on Antena 3 CNN, about Romania’s entry into Schengen and the attitude of the Austrian chancellor in this case, and confirmed that our country is blocking the access of some Austrian officers to NATO meetings. “You have the right to veto, but you have to justify it,” said the prime minister, who added that “as long as I am prime minister, I will not accept that the chancellor be a hypocrite and continue to humiliate Romania.”
Asked on CNN’s Antena 3 if Romania blocks the access of some Austrian officials to NATO meetings, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said: “Definitely”.
Marcel Ciolacu: I think Austria understands very well, and the Austrian people understand better than the politician at the moment. What Chancellor Nehammer is doing is unacceptable. First of all, I, as prime minister, and his lordship are transients. You have the right to veto, the European Commission, the European Council, the European Parliament made a recommendation – that Romania deserves this for 10 years. It met absolutely all the technical requirements. You have the right to veto, but you have to justify it.
As long as I am prime minister, I will not accept that the chancellor is a hypocrite and continues to humiliate Romania.
Romania keeps the back of the front in Ukraine. While Romania respects all sanctions against Russia, while Romania helps the Republic of Moldova to be no longer dependent on Russia – and at this moment I can tell you that for several weeks the Republic of Moldova has been independent in terms of Russian gas -, you, Austria, a neutral country, does not spend a single euro on endowment of the army. Romania increases its GDP allocation from 2% to 2.5% to deter what Russia wants to do.
And you come as a hypocrite and say that Romania has no right in Schengen, without justifying your veto. Moreover, they buy gas and oil from Russia – since the war started – to the value of almost 7 billion euros, money that Putin uses in the Russian economy and then further, to support the war in Ukraine. Dirty money.
But you come, although everyone proves that there is no migration through Romania, you come and say you are against it.
I will appeal to the European Court of Justice, as will the Government, if in December Austria will use its right of veto again. Moreover, I will ask the European Council, the European Commission, the European Parliament to be a party together with Romania in this process.
Romania loses at least 2% of its GDP by not joining the Schengen area.
You cannot, after you have approved Croatia’s entry into Schengen, come and say that you do not accept Romania and Bulgaria.
Editor: Liviu Cojan
