Romania continues to participate in the ongoing Schengen accession negotiations, but the reality is that this area no longer works, the president said Klaus Johannis on Thursday ahead of the European Council.

While Austria says its opposition is not specifically directed at Romania or Bulgaria, it has steadfastly rejected the enlargement of the Schengen area, despite Vienna’s previous approval of Croatia’s entry under similar conditions.

“We know very well that we meet all the Schengen criteria,” Johannis said in Brussels. However, he argued that “the Schengen area no longer works”.

“Schengen no longer works and almost no longer existsas many states, including in Central Europe, have closed their borders, due to immigration,” said the Romanian President specifically.

The dialogue is getting “more and more strange” and Austria’s stance on Schengen expansion is “to say the least” puzzling.

President Iohannis stressed that a reform of the operation of the Schengen zone, something that Austria is strongly demanding – could only take place after Romania becomes a member of it.

Regarding the possibility of legal action against Austria, Johannes reiterated his reservations. “This is a very complex legal issue. We could not find two jurists who would have the same opinion on this matter.”