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UAE, Austria vow to deepen ties

During the ceremony, the two sides praised the progress made in their bilateral relations, stressing the need to continue strengthening joint work…reports Asian Lite News

UAE Minister of Industry Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber has met with Karl Nehammer, Chancellor of Austria Alexander Schallenberg, Austria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Magnus Brunner, Austria’s Minister of Finance, and a number of Austrian government and private sector officials in Vienna.

Dr. Al Jaber conveyed the greetings of the UAE leadership, emphasising their keenness to bolster UAE-Austria cooperation. He also praised the strong Emirati-Austrian relationship, spanning 50 years, which continues to grow and thrive, highlighting the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership announced in 2021 as a recent example. Dr. Al Jaber stressed the importance of further expanding existing ties through the pursuit of new collaborations that drive mutually beneficial and sustainable economic yields, and joint investments that drive economic diversification efforts, strengthen cooperation, and deliver benefits for both countries in vital sectors.

Dr. Al Jaber also commended Austria’s positive and active participation in COP28, where it announced an increase in its contribution to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to €160 million per annum, its support for initiatives to boost renewable energy production capacity threefold and double energy efficiency by 2030, as well as its announcements and commitments related to agriculture, food systems and health.

The Austrian side praised the strategic ties and affirmed the desire to advance them across all sectors within the strategic partnership, which includes political, economic, trade, financial, cultural, advanced technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) fields, as well as infrastructure, energy, and renewable energy. They also congratulated the UAE on its presidency and organization of COP28, during which it succeeded in delivering the UAE Consensus to transition away from fossil fuels in energy, and other strategic initiatives and commitments set to turbocharge global climate action. The two sides stressed the importance of building on the outputs of the conference and working to implement them.

First Ministerial Meeting

Chaired by Dr. Sultan Al Jaber and Alexander Schallenberg, the first ministerial meeting of the UAE- Austria Comprehensive Strategic Partnership took place during the visit. The meeting included deliberations on the latest developments in bilateral relations related to all facets of the partnership, which includes political, diplomatic, and international cooperation areas, including strengthening diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving global crises that threaten international peace and security. It also discussed cooperation across economic, energy, trade, industry, and advanced technology fields, including AI and data centers, as well as cross-sectoral partnerships and collaboration in arts, culture, and heritage.

Half a Century of Bilateral Ties

The Austrian Chancellor hosted the UAE delegation at a private meeting in which both sides celebrated the golden jubilee of the establishment of the bilateral relations between their countries, which developed into a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2021, aimed at ushering in an ambitious phase of cooperation to achieve their shared aspirations for further development and prosperity. During the ceremony, the two sides praised the progress made in their bilateral relations, stressing the need to continue strengthening joint work and uncovering new cooperation prospects to reach the ambitions of the leaderships of the two countries and the objectives of the UAE-Austria Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

ADNOC-OMV @ 30

“It is our honor to celebrate two significant anniversaries during the visit of His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber. This year marks 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries and 30 years of a strong partnership between OMV and Abu Dhabi. As the Finance Minister of the Republic of Austria, I am pleased that amidst the diplomatic visit, there is also time and space to highlight the economic partnership. Economic cooperation is not only beneficial for the positive development of companies but also a success story for taxpayers,” stated Finance Minister Dr. Magnus Brunner.

The partners also celebrated the occasion of nearly three decades of the cooperation between ADNOC and OMV, based on a shareholder´s agreement with ÖBAG, the state holding company, which has greatly contributed to building strategic partnerships in the energy and chemicals sectors, creating value, driving growth, and supporting the priorities of the two countries in achieving and maintaining energy security, and exploring new opportunities in the fields of clean and renewable energy, including hydrogen

Trade and Direct Investments

The UAE is Austria’s top investment partner in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and sixth globally, with Emirati investments amounting to approximately $8.2 billion (4% of total foreign investment flows in Austria) in 2023, while Austria stands at 10th among the UAE’s trading partners at the European Union level. The UAE also ranks first as Austria’s largest trading partner among the GCC countries (43% of Austria’s total trade with GCC countries) and second among Arab countries (16% of Austria’s total trade exchange with Arab countries). The volume of UAE-Austria non-oil trade in the first nine months of 2023 recorded a growth of 18% year-on-year reaching around $1 billion.

ALSO READ-Austrian Activist Freed From Taliban Custody

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Austrian Activist Freed From Taliban Custody

Fritz was arrested after he disregarded Austria’s longstanding advisory against traveling to Afghanistan, which had fallen back under the control of the Taliban in 2021…reports Asian Lite News

The Taliban has released Herbert Fritz, an 84-year-old Austrian far-right activist who was apprehended in Afghanistan last May, Al Jazeera reported.

The Austrian government officially announced Fritz’s release in a statement on Sunday, revealing that he had safely arrived in Doha, Qatar, earlier in the day. The release was facilitated through the mediation efforts of the Qatari government.

Fritz was arrested after he disregarded Austria’s longstanding advisory against traveling to Afghanistan, which had fallen back under the control of the Taliban in 2021.

In response to his release, Fritz expressed a desire to visit Afghanistan again, stating, “I think it was bad luck but I want to visit again.” When questioned about his experience, he remarked, “There were some nice people but there were some foolish people also, I’m sorry,” about his captors, as reported by Al Jazeera.

The Austrian far-right activist had drawn attention prior to his arrest when he visited Afghanistan and reported positively on the living conditions there. He published an article titled “Vacations with the Taliban” through a far-right media outlet, contributing to arguments that Afghanistan was a safe destination for refugees to return. The Taliban arrested Fritz on suspicion of spying, and his case gained publicity among Austrian neo-Nazis through Telegram channels, the report added.

Austria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been actively working on securing Fritz’s release since May, expressed gratitude to Qatar and the European Union representation in Kabul for their assistance. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer acknowledged the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his team for their “strong support in releasing one of our citizens from prison in Afghanistan.” Nehammer emphasised the collaborative efforts that enabled the Austrian citizen to return home to his family.

Herbert Fritz, identified as a founding member of Austria’s National Democratic Party (NDP), an extreme right group banned in 1988, had reportedly been researching a book in Afghanistan, as asserted by the far-right Freedom Party of Austria. This party, leading in opinion polls ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections, had been actively advocating for Fritz’s release.

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed gratitude to the “caretaker government in Afghanistan” for facilitating the Austrian’s release.

“The State of Qatar has proven, regionally and globally, that it is a trusted international partner in various important issues,” the ministry said, adding, “It spares no effort in harnessing its energy and ability in the areas of mediation, preventive diplomacy, and settling disputes through peaceful means,” Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)

ALSO READ-UAE Invites Austrian Private Sector to Explore its Markets

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UAE Invites Austrian Private Sector to Explore its Markets

Bin Touq affirmed that the bilateral relations between the UAE and Austria are strategic, marked by continuous development on various fronts…reports Asian Lite News

Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, and Martin Kocher, Austrian Minister of Economy and Labour, chaired the UAE-Austria Joint Economic Committee, which was attended by several representatives from both countries’ government and private sectors.

Abdullah Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, and Florian Frauscher, Director General of Economic Affairs, Innovation, and International Policy at the Austrian Ministry of Economy and Labour, signed the minutes of the session.

The Joint Economic Committee was held in Dubai, to strengthen cooperation and forge partnerships between the two countries in the fields of trade, investment, tourism, AI, technology, green energy, logistics, infrastructure, and vocational training in the near future.

Bin Touq affirmed that the bilateral relations between the UAE and Austria are strategic, marked by continuous development on various fronts. This can be attributed to the forward-thinking vision of both leaderships to continually develop the bilateral partnership by capitalising on emerging opportunities.

The Minister of Economy said, “The UAE-Austria Joint Economic Committee is a new milestone in strengthening our bilateral economic ties and fostering collaboration across mutually beneficial sectors. It also aims to explore promising opportunities in both countries’ markets. The convening of this session aligns with the UAE’s strategic plans to boost economic openness and enhance its economic standing in international markets following the ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision to make the country a global partner and an attractive, influential economic hub.”

During the committee meeting, the UAE side highlighted key economic developments and policies in the country, including amendments to the Commercial Companies Law and updates to residency systems aimed at boosting and supporting the private sector, enhancing the competitiveness of the business environment, and expanding its growth prospects.

In this regard, Bin Touq invited the Austrian private sector to explore the UAE’s markets and take advantage of the benefits and incentives provided by its business environment.

In return, the Austrian delegation invited the UAE side to attend the ‘Invest in Austria’ conference, scheduled to be held in February 2024, encouraging Emirati companies to benefit from the investment opportunities it offers and learn about the vital sectors in the Austrian markets.

The committee deliberated on new strategies to sustain collaborative efforts and bolster economic cooperation at both the governmental and private sector levels. It underscored the crucial role of the private sector in enhancing economic cooperation between the two nations, ensuring comprehensive support for exporters and importers to facilitate the expansion and diversification of trade in both goods and services.

Additionally, it discussed the establishment of new communication channels between the Emirati and Austrian business communities to solidify the economic and commercial ties between the two countries.

The UAE is Austria’s top GCC trading partner and the second largest in the Arab world, accounting for 43 per cent of Austria’s trade with GCC countries and 16 per cent with Arab nations. Moreover, Austria ranks 10th among the UAE’s trading partners in the EU.

Other high-level officials who attended the JEC from the UAE side include Juma Mohammed Al Kait, Assistant Undersecretary for Foreign Trade Sector at the Ministry of Economy.

Eva Landrichtinger, Secretary-General of the Austrian Ministry of Economy and Labor; Paul Rockenbauer, Head of the Office of the Austrian Minister of Economy and Labor; and Daniel Kreuzhuber, Senior Advisor for European Union and International Affairs to the Austrian Minister of Economy and Labor, also attended the session.

ALSO READ:  UAE Supports Ukrainian Health Sector

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Austria Rekindles Ties with Iraq

Austria had closed its embassy in Baghdad in 1991 over security concerns….reports Asian Lite News

Austria has reopened its embassy in Iraq after more than 30 years of closure.

The reopening took place as Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg arrived in Baghdad on Tuesday for a two-day visit to boost bilateral ties, reports Xinhua news agency.

Taking to X, Schallenberg  said: “Austria is back in Baghdad, Definitely one of the most beautiful tasks as a Foreign Minister: Opening an embassy. Looking forward to deepening our ties and strengthening the Austria-Iraq relations further.”

During his visit, Schallenberg separately met Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, discussing ways to improve bilateral cooperation in various fields such as security, transportation, and economy.

Schallenberg also met with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein, and the two ministers discussed issues regarding the reopening of the Austrian embassy in Baghdad, which was closed in 1991 due to security concerns.

In a joint press conference after the meeting between the two ministers, Schallenberg said Austria is committed to supporting Iraq’s stability and security.

“Iraq plays an important role in the stability of the region, and when this country is exposed to instability, Austria will feel that as well,” he said. 

Austria had closed its embassy in Baghdad in 1991 over security concerns.

The country has had a representation in the Iraqi capital for under a year, and the embassy is set to be officially reopened later this month.

ALSO READ: Iraq,Turkey Seek Solutions for Water Share Amid Climate Change Impact

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India, Austria discuss UNSC reforms, bilateral ties

This interaction follows shortly after the signing of the Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Agreement (CMMPA) between the two countries, MEA said…reports Asian Lite News

The Seventh Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between India and Austria were held in New Delhi where both sides discussed regional and multilateral issues including UN Security Council reforms, Ukraine and India’s G20 presidency.

Both sides made significant progress in looking into possible cooperation in the fields of migration and skill development.

The Indian side was led by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (West) Sanjay Verma and Gregor Koessler, Political Director, Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs led the Austria side. Taking to Twitter, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “7th India-Austria FOC held in New Delhi, led by Secy (West) @SanjayVermalFS & Political Director @MFA_Austria @koessler_g. Talks covered areas of bilateral cooperation including trade, consular, skilling, migration, culture and people-to-people contacts. Both sides also discussed regional and multilateral issues including UNSC reforms, Ukraine and India’s G20 presidency.”

This interaction follows shortly after the signing of the Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Agreement (CMMPA) between the two countries, MEA said.

Traditionally, India-Austria relations have been warm and friendly.

Earlier, in January, India and Austria signed five agreements including in the areas of migration and mobility. The two nations also signed the Working Holiday Programme agreement.

The Migration and Mobility agreement is the first such agreement reached by Austria with any country with whom they have a visa regime and only the second with a non-OECD country, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release.

A Working Holiday Programme agreement “will allow Indians on holiday in Austria to find employment and work without a work permit for up to six months.” Other agreements signed between the two nations include the areas of culture and visa-free entry of diplomatic passport holders.

This came during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar paid an official visit to Austria from December 31 to January 3. Prior to his visit to Austria, he also paid an official visit to Cyprus from December 29-31. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Far-right Austrian MPs walk out during Zelensky’s speech

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Far-right Austrian MPs walk out during Zelensky’s speech

Japanese student dresses like Zelensky for graduation ceremony.(photo:Instagram)

There are 30 FPO politicians in Austria’s lower chamber and they were the only ones to oppose Zelensky’s address…reports Asian Lite News

Ahead of the Ukrainian leader’s address, the FPO had warned that they would hold some form of protest against the speech.

More than 20 far-right Austrian MPs walked out of Parliament during a virtual address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, arguing that the latter’s speech violated Vienna’s “permanent neutrality” status.

Austria’s “permanent neutrality” has been part of its constitution since 1955. The law states that “Austria will never in the future accede to any military alliances nor permit the establishment of military bases of foreign states on her territory”, reports the BBC.

In his address on Thursday which marked the 400th day of Russia’s ongoing war, Zelensky emphasised that it was impossible to hold a “morally neutral stance against evil”, reports Ukrayinska Pravda.

While thanking Austria for its humanitarian aid to Ukraine, Zelensky also invited Wolfgang Sobotka, the speaker of the lower house of the Austrian parliament, and other parliamentarians to the war-torn nation, so that they could see with their own eyes what the Russian war had brought to Ukraine.

“To see this means to understand our people. To understand how important each individual vote is in support of international law and Ukraine, when these issues are discussed at the UN General Assembly, the European Parliament or other international platforms.

“We must understand the importance of not being morally neutral against evil. This is not about geopolitics… It is, however, that we must always remain humans and save our humanity,” the President was quoted as saying.

As he spoke, the Freedom Party (FPO) MPs walked out and left placards on their desk with the party logo that read “space for neutrality” and “space for peace”, the BBC reported.

There are 30 FPO politicians in Austria’s lower chamber and they were the only ones to oppose Zelensky’s address.

Ahead of the Ukrainian leader’s address, the FPO had warned that they would hold some form of protest against the speech.

But despite the walkout, Sobotka pledged more financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and said the country deserved Austria’s solidarity.

Austria had previously said it cannot help Ukraine’s defence militarily, but it does support Kiev politically.

ALSO READ-India-Africa joint military exercise culminates

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India views Austria as serious, consequential partner’

Jaishankar thanked Schallenberg for inviting him to the New Year’s concert of the Vienna Philharmonic…reports Asian Lite News

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said that India considers Austria a “serious and consequential partner” in terms of bilateral cooperation and noted that the European country has capabilities that are relevant to India’s modernization and progress.

During the joint press briefing with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, Jaishankar said India is a strong votary of legal migration and mobility and wants a fair, legal and equal opportunity to demonstrate the contributions of Indian skills and talent. “We view Austria as a serious and consequential partner when it comes to bilateral cooperation. You have experiences and capabilities that are relevant to India’s modernization and progress. These are guided by government policies but ultimately implemented through business transactions,” Jaishankar said.

“Our commitment today is to take both aspects forward in tandem and I look forward to concrete initiatives in that regard,” he added.

Jaishankar thanked Schallenberg for inviting him to the New Year’s concert of the Vienna Philharmonic.

“We currently have a trade turnover of approx USD 2.5 billion, and more than 150 Austrian companies are present in India. We would like those numbers to grow substantially. Our understanding is that this endeavour will be pursued through government-encouraged business-led meetings in the course of this year.”

Highlighting India’s presence in Austria’s economy, EAM S Jaishankar said, “I’m glad to note that India’s presence in the Austrian economy has grown substantially this is particularly so with the digital and auto industries. There is again scope to grow more here, ” he said.

Jaishankar embarked on a two-nation visit to Cyprus and Austria on December 29. His visit to Austria will conclude on January 3. (ANI)

Indian student bags top award in Australia

An Indian student has been recognised as an Ambassador of Change by the University of Canberra in Australia for his outstanding work as a student mentor.

Vishal Mittal, who recently completed his final year of a Master of Data Science, received the award for his volunteer work with the university’s mentor programme through its student support initiative, UC Thrive.

“It was quite helpful for me to have a mentor — I learnt a few tips and tricks, and more about the course. So, after that, I knew that I too wanted to be a mentor,” Mittal was quoted as saying in a university statement.

He said that his time as a mentor helped him grow and develop his own skills.Before coming to Australia, Mittal did his Masters in computer programming from Gujarat Technological University and Bachelors from a university in Baroda.

“Before I started this, I was very much an introvert. I got to learn many things, how to interact with people, how to talk with others, and how to communicate. So it’s actually helped me a lot too,” he said.

Nine Ambassadors of Change were recognised by the university for their work.

The university’s student mentor programme provides individual support throughout a student’s first semester, answering their questions and helping them make connections.

ALSO READ: Austrian Foreign Minister hails ties with India

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Austrian Foreign Minister hails ties with India

Vienna, Jan 01 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, in Vienna on Sunday. (ANI Photo)

Calling the mobility agreement exemplary, Schallenberg said immigration is needed but not the kind which is controlled by states and not by organised crimes and human traffickers….reports Asian Lite News

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg hailed ties with New Delhi in Vienna on Monday saying he was looking forward to more investment, exchange and more people-to-people contact between the two countries.

He said the two countries have a lot of potential and lot to learn from each other. “I want more….more trade, more investment, more exchange, more people-to-people contact, more Indian scholars here, more Austrian students and scholars in India, the other way around. I believe there is a lot of potential and a lot of things we can learn and gain from each other,” Schallenberg said during a joint presser with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the Austrian capital.

The Austrian Foreign minister announced that the two sides initialed the agreement on a Comprehensive Migration Mobility Partnership which, he said, was of great strategic importance to Austria.

The Austrian minister said, “Most importantly, today we just initialed the agreement on a comprehensive migration mobility partnership. This is of strategic importance for Austria.”

During the joint statement, Schallenberg underlined that the intensified cooperation is a matter of utmost importance to both countries as Austria experienced the highest number of asylum-seekers last year, as high as 100, 000, including an exploding number of Indians coming illegally from Serbia.

“This is a sign of very intensified cooperation in a matter which is of higher importance because last year we experienced the highest number of asylum seekers in Austria, over 100, 000 and we had exploding number of Indians coming illegally from Serbia to Austria. Reaching 2021, we had 600 asylum applications from Indian citizens in Austria and suddenly they reached 18000 last year,” the Austrian Foreign minister said.

He added, “The number has number decreased. We have pressured our Serbian friends to align the visa liberalization policy to EU policy which they have done thankfully. I am especially happy about this agreement. The problem is not immigration, the problem is not migration. We want that, we need that. The problem is illegal immigration and here we are having the very common view that this is something we do not want.”

Calling the mobility agreement exemplary, Schallenberg said immigration is needed but not the kind which is controlled by states and not by organised crimes and human traffickers.

“India takes back people who come illegally. Austria has now undertaken to make mobility and migration easier,” Schallenberg said, adding that thousands of Indians living in Austria “are enriching our society”.

“This agreement is exemplary as on one side India takes to take back people who come back illegally and on the other side, we undertake to make mobility and migration easier… to have students, to have scholars, to have skilled workers coming to Austria,” the Austrian Foreign minister added.

During the joint press briefing, Jaishankar praised Schallenberg for inviting him to the Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s concert. Thanking Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer for receiving him, the EAM said they shared Austria’s views on relations between the two countries as well as current international problems.

On the agreements between India and Austria, Jaishankar said, “We have concluded a number of agreements…I think a particularly noteworthy one is the initialising of the Comprehensive Migration & Mobility Partnership Agreement because it will enable demands for skills and talents to be synchronized with their availability.”

Jaishankar noted that India has concluded similar agreements with other nations, including France, Germany, and Portugal. He assured that India will support Austrian companies who come forward in this regard.

Saying India is a strong supporter of legal migration and mobility, Jaishankar stressed that it wants a “fair, legal and equal opportunity” to showcase the contributions to Indian skills and talent.

Jaishankar emphasised on the contribution of India to Austrian economy, saying, “I’m glad to note that India’s presence in the Austrian economy has grown substantially this is particularly so with the digital and auto industries. There is again scope to grow more here. “

Earlier, Jaishankar met Bulgarian President Rumen Georgiev Radev in Vienna and held discussions on bolstering cooperation between the two nations in the ‘Make in India’ space, near-shoring, and building resilient supply chains.

Jaishankar tweeted, “A good meeting in Vienna with President Rumen Georgiev Radev of Bulgaria. Discussed strengthening of our cooperation in the context of Make in India, near-shoring and building resilient supply chains.”

EAM Jaishankar will hold a meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi on Tuesday.

Prior to his visit to Austria, Jaishankar had travelled to Cyprus, calling on former Cyprus Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides during his three-day trip. In a tweet, Jaishankar said, “Good to catch up with an old friend, former Foreign Minister @Christodulides.”

Jaishankar also met his Cyprus counterpart Ioannis Kasoulide, with whom he signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence and Military Cooperation. (ANI)

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Anger as Austria blocks Romania from joining EU’s passport-free zone

European Commission presents toolbox to counter energy price spike. (Credit: Twitter)

The European Commission, in charge of assessing Schengen candidacies, has said the two countries are ready to become part of the passport-free area since at least 2011…reports Asian Lite News

Austria has blocked the accession of Romania and Bulgaria into Schengen, the passport-free area that has abolished border checks between the vast majority of EU member states.

The Netherlands supported Romania’s bid but opposed Bulgaria’s.

Croatia, however, received unanimous backing and will join the Schengen Area as of January 2023.

The votes took place in Brussels on Thursday afternoon during a high-stakes meeting of interior ministers.

Romania and Bulgaria “are fulfilling all the requirements. They have been waiting for a long time. The citizens of Bulgaria and Romania deserve to be fully part of the Schengen area,” Ylva Johansson, European Commissioner for home affairs, said after the meeting.

“I thought, actually, that we would have the decision today. So, I think that today is a day of disappointment.”

The negative conclusion, which was widely expected, represents a painful political defeat for both Romania and Bulgaria, who joined the European Union six years before Croatia.

The European Commission, in charge of assessing Schengen candidacies, has said the two countries are ready to become part of the passport-free area since at least 2011.

The executive released another unconditional endorsement just last month, while the European Parliament passed a new resolution denouncing the exclusion as “discriminatory.”

Over the past few years, countries that were previously opposed to Schengen enlargement, such as Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Belgium, softened their positions, increasing the odds of a positive outcome.

France and Germany, the bloc’s most influential states, voiced their support for Romania and Bulgaria this year.

But none of this was enough to overcome the Austrian and Dutch reticence.

As Schengen accession requires unanimity, the small minority managed to block the whole process. The debate on Thursday took “longer than expected,” said an EU diplomat, describing “certain bitterns in the room” once the result became clear.

Austria’s opposition, which has surprised many in Brussels as it only emerged in recent weeks, is based on a new influx of asylum-seekers through the Western Balkan route.

“The system is currently not working. Austria got (this year) more than 100,000 illegal border crossings, 75,000 of them not registered, although we are inland country, in the middle of Europe – in the middle of the Schengen countries,” said Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner.

“The system doesn’t work. This means that we first have to significantly improve the system at this point. Therefore, I am in favour of postponing the vote and including these countries accordingly”.

Bucharest has vehemently countered Vienna’s claims, arguing Romania is not part of the Western Balkan route and that several reports issued by the European Commission and fact-finding missions of experts have proven the country is well prepared to manage its external borders.

Frontex, the EU’s border control agency, does consider Romania and Bulgaria to be part of the Western Balkan route, a spokesperson told Euronews. In the first 10 months of this year, the path has seen more than 128,000 border-crossing incidents, a 168% rise compared to the same period in 2021.

For its part, the Netherlands voted against Bulgaria’s accession bid over what it calls unaddressed rule-of-law concerns and pending pieces of legislation to tackle corruption and organised crime.

Bulgaria, which has had a caretaker government since August after a series of inconclusive elections, challenged these claims and said the opposition was unrelated to the Schengen criteria.

“Two member states expressed reservations but they don’t have any particular concerns with relations to Schengen,” Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said at the end of the meeting, noting his country was ready to take the “necessary steps” to convince its skeptical partners.

“The argument of Austria is that Schengen is not working and we must unite our efforts to make Schengen work as it has to, and then enlarge it with Bulgaria and Romania. Until then, Bulgaria is not responsible for the internal problems in Austria.”

ALSO READ: 15 oil vessels blocked at Turkish Straits amid EU sanctions

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Israel, Austria to expand security cooperation

Israel, Austria to expand security cooperation

Israel and Austria have signed an agreement on establishing “a comprehensive strategic partnership” to expand security cooperation…reports Asian Lite News

The deal was signed by Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who held talks at the PM’s office in the HaKirya military base in Tel Aviv on expanding cooperation in various fields, especially on security issues, Lapid’s office said in a statement on Tuesday.

The main fields covered by the agreement are “cyber and counter-terrorism, health in light of the coronavirus pandemic, tourism, technology, innovation, trade, investment promotion, the struggle against climate change, green tech and digitisation,” the statement added.

ALSO READ:New US-Israel deal against nuclear Iran

The two leaders also discussed regional issues, “especially the Iranian threat,” it said.

Lapid reiterated Israel’s opposition to the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, emphasising “the importance of the international awareness against the agreement and concerns over the continuation of the Iranian nuclear program,” the statement added.