Listen to the news

The electronic edition "Express" published material on a press conference held today by Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer on the occasion of the first anniversary of his assumption of this post.

The article says that Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer proves that he is firm and does not change his decision to deny Bulgaria and Romania entry into the Schengen area.

Author Martina Bauer recalls that Austria has already declared against the extension of Schengen with the two European countries.

The reason given is the large number of illegal migrants who come to Austria via this route.

"The migration crisis is really dramatic for Austria," Nehammer said.

To solve the problem, he has asked the EU for better protection of the EU's external borders, current practices for granting refugee status and a repatriation agreement.

Defenders of the admission of Bulgaria and Romania accuse Nehamer of "staging".

But Nehammer can refute this claim with terrifying numbers, adds Martina Bauer.

Austria's vice chancellor against the veto on Schengen expansion

She then writes that this year Austria has apprehended over 100,000 migrants, 75,000 of them unregistered, even though they enter Austria from other European countries.

This puts Austria on a par with countries such as Italy and Greece in accepting migrants.

Through questioning of applicants for refugee status and channelers, as well as a corresponding study of data from their mobile phones, it is clear that 40 percent choose the route through Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary to enter Austria.

"And since this is so, for now Austria does not agree to the extension of Schengen with Romania and Bulgaria," said Nehamer, who with this position represents the majority in Austria, writes "Express". 

When asked under what conditions he would still support the expansion, Nehammer explained that this would only happen if "the numbers of captured illegal migrants without registration who came to Austria via Bulgaria and Romania decrease."

This will be a sign of successful protection of the external borders of the EU.

Nehammer praised the "Security Partnership" with Hungary and Serbia.

In recent days, the Austrian chancellor has had good talks with government representatives of both countries.