The possible Austrian veto on Croatia’s Schengen accession continues to cause political discussions in Zagreb. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic tried to calm down yesterday.
The Austrian government is merely responding to Austrians’ concerns regarding illegal migration, Plenkovic said, according to the HINA news agency. “The reason why Austria is concerned is not Croatia, but the increasing number of asylum seekers in Austria.”
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) had previously confirmed his rejection of the EU Commission’s proposal to expand the Schengen area to include Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia. The countries have been waiting to become part of the Schengen area since they joined the EU in 2007 and 2013 respectively.
In this, controls at the internal borders are abolished, while the external borders are tightened. Austria says that this system does not work and points to the high number of asylum seekers.
criticism of Austria
While he understands Vienna’s concerns, he expects support and understanding for what Croatia has done on the way to fulfilling the Schengen entry criteria. “I am confident that we will be successful in the end,” said Plenkovic ahead of Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s (ÖVP) visit to Zagreb tomorrow.
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic expressed himself more sharply. “The statements are worrying,” he said, looking at Karner. Milanovic announced that he would speak to the Chancellor during Nehammer’s visit to Zagreb “and advocate for our accession”. “That’s all I can do,” said the former Social Democratic head of government.
Karner’s opposition to the Schengen expansion is in reality “a settlement between some EU members at the expense of Croatia”.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2023/01/11/3524096-71829088-2560-1440.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1)