Publications in Austrian media indicate that Romania is blocking Austria’s participation in NATO meetings, BNR reported.
Two Austrian army officers have been waiting in Brussels for weeks for NATO accreditation. Access has been delayed by Romania, which has asked for time to think, reports ORF public radio and television.
It is believed to be a reaction to the Austrian government’s veto of Romania and Bulgaria joining Schengen, the daily Salzburger Nahrichten and Oberjostereihishe Nahrichten reported.
The Romanian delegation to NATO did not wish to comment on the case to “Salzburger Nahrichten”.
Austria’s participation in NATO meetings was blocked for several years by Turkey after 2016 because of Austria’s veto on Ankara’s EU accession talks.
If Austria votes against Romania joining Schengen at one of the next two meetings of EU interior and justice ministers, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu (pictured above) will challenge the decision at the Court of Justice of the European Union, the prime minister said, according to Romanian Agerpress news agency reports ORF.
