site.btaAustrian President Backs Bulgaria for Schengen

Hosting foreign correspondents at his official residence at the Hofburg Palace here on Thursday, Austria's Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen was asked by BTA about his opinion on a Schengen enlargement with Bulgaria and Romania.

"You know that my opinion differs from the opinion of the Government, which has imposed a veto [on the two Balkan countries' Schengen entry] and does not relent despite the European Commission's recommendation to admit Bulgaria and Romania. The Government argues that its decision is prompted by the migrants arriving in Austria. These migrants, however, come from Hungary rather than from Bulgaria and Romania. I think that the Government should also safeguard better its investment interests, and not just in the finance sector. Austria is a home country to investors in both countries. Let me add that tens of thousands of Romanian women work in our country, taking care of elderly and sick people round the clock," Van der Bellen said.