Austria opposes Romania's accession to the Schengen area. The statement was made by the Chancellor of Austria, Karl Nehammer, during the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tirana
It comes a day after Interior Minister Lucian Bode was in Vienna where he met with Interior Minister Gerhart Karner. He also added that more time is needed given that there are more than 75,000 unregistered illegal immigrants in Austria.
Minister Lucian Bode tried to convince his Austrian counterpart that there is no immigration corridor through Romania, but Gerhart Karner remained in his position. President Klaus Iohannis declared, also on Tuesday, in Tirana, that Romania will negotiate until the last moment.
The extension of the Schengen Area will be decided at the Council of Ministers of Justice and Internal Affairs of the EU, on Thursday and Friday.
