**Now is the time to stand together or fail alone. I ask Austrian Chancellor Nehammer to do the right thing and reverse his government’s decision.**
*Marcel Ciolacu is the president of the Chamber of Deputies of the Romanian parliament and president of the country’s Social Democratic Party.*
While the free world is being tested by Ukraine’s vicious invasion by President Vladimir Putin’s Russia, here in Europe, in the fight for democracy and resilience, we must always look to strengthen the democratic institutions that keep us safe, strong and secure.
Now is the time when we must all stand together — or fail alone. And in this regard, one essential opportunity before my colleagues in the European Union right now is the continued reform and expansion of the Schengen area. A growing Schengen can further unify Europe both practically and symbolically, advance democracy, strengthen economic recovery and bolster our collective security against increasing foreign threats.
Regrettably, however, the government of Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer has decided to move Europe and our collective security in a different direction.
Austria’s rash and ill-defined decision to deny Romania access to the Schengen area weakens not only our region but Europe as a whole, while encouraging the forces aligned against us.
Surprisingly, this damaging decision comes at a time when I’ve been most heartened by the combined global efforts to ensure Ukraine and its heroic people live free once again. The acts of solidarity run deep: the G7’s and G20’s strong commitment; advanced NATO cohesion and expansion with Sweden and Finland; the instrumental role played by the United States; and the Ukraine donor conference hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, which was attended by 46 countries. As the world stands up to the injustice of Russian aggression, the list goes on.
By now, we all should have learned the lessons of history, that if you don’t stand up to a tyrant today, they will be in your backyard tomorrow. And the Romanian people know this reality all too well.
The February 24 invasion of Ukraine changed everything, and for us, the shock hit close to home. Having the longest border with Ukraine of any EU or NATO country, we suddenly found ourselves on the front line of the battle for democracy.
Thankfully, the Social Democratic Party, which I now lead, had brought Romania into NATO and the EU at the right time. As a strategic economic and security hub with some of the most vital Black Sea ports, Romania knew it had to act as a shield around Ukraine. Our very democratic way of life was at stake, along with the shared values and aspirations of our friends and neighbors in Europe. And we’ve proved ourselves up to the task.
It was a decision to appease their “conservative” electorate, not one in the interest of Europe
And it was a bad decision from a financial standpoint for them aswell since Austria investment is quite big in Romania, even without the “mistreatment” of Austrian companies, Romania entering Schengen would have helped said Austrian businesses
Now I ask myself what do I buy, I won’t renew my car insurance using Asirom, I closed my Raiffeisen bank account, won’t pump gas from OMV and Petrom anymore
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**Now is the time to stand together or fail alone. I ask Austrian Chancellor Nehammer to do the right thing and reverse his government’s decision.**
*Marcel Ciolacu is the president of the Chamber of Deputies of the Romanian parliament and president of the country’s Social Democratic Party.*
While the free world is being tested by Ukraine’s vicious invasion by President Vladimir Putin’s Russia, here in Europe, in the fight for democracy and resilience, we must always look to strengthen the democratic institutions that keep us safe, strong and secure.
Now is the time when we must all stand together — or fail alone. And in this regard, one essential opportunity before my colleagues in the European Union right now is the continued reform and expansion of the Schengen area. A growing Schengen can further unify Europe both practically and symbolically, advance democracy, strengthen economic recovery and bolster our collective security against increasing foreign threats.
Regrettably, however, the government of Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer has decided to move Europe and our collective security in a different direction.
Austria’s rash and ill-defined decision to deny Romania access to the Schengen area weakens not only our region but Europe as a whole, while encouraging the forces aligned against us.
Surprisingly, this damaging decision comes at a time when I’ve been most heartened by the combined global efforts to ensure Ukraine and its heroic people live free once again. The acts of solidarity run deep: the G7’s and G20’s strong commitment; advanced NATO cohesion and expansion with Sweden and Finland; the instrumental role played by the United States; and the Ukraine donor conference hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, which was attended by 46 countries. As the world stands up to the injustice of Russian aggression, the list goes on.
By now, we all should have learned the lessons of history, that if you don’t stand up to a tyrant today, they will be in your backyard tomorrow. And the Romanian people know this reality all too well.
The February 24 invasion of Ukraine changed everything, and for us, the shock hit close to home. Having the longest border with Ukraine of any EU or NATO country, we suddenly found ourselves on the front line of the battle for democracy.
Thankfully, the Social Democratic Party, which I now lead, had brought Romania into NATO and the EU at the right time. As a strategic economic and security hub with some of the most vital Black Sea ports, Romania knew it had to act as a shield around Ukraine. Our very democratic way of life was at stake, along with the shared values and aspirations of our friends and neighbors in Europe. And we’ve proved ourselves up to the task.
It was a decision to appease their “conservative” electorate, not one in the interest of Europe
And it was a bad decision from a financial standpoint for them aswell since Austria investment is quite big in Romania, even without the “mistreatment” of Austrian companies, Romania entering Schengen would have helped said Austrian businesses
Now I ask myself what do I buy, I won’t renew my car insurance using Asirom, I closed my Raiffeisen bank account, won’t pump gas from OMV and Petrom anymore