BUCHAREST, Romania

Romania cannot be blamed for Austria’s problems with irregular migration, Interior Minister Lucian Bode said, rejecting Vienna’s grounds for keeping Bucharest out of the Schengen area.

Austria accuses Romania of being part of the Western Balkan route used by irregular migrants, and opposes its inclusion in the EU’s passport-free Schengen area.

Romania’s bid to join Schengen, along with Bulgaria and Croatia, will be taken up by EU home affairs ministers this week.

With unanimous support a must, Romania’s prospects seem bleak due to Austria’s stance.

In a social media post on Tuesday, Bode rejected Austria’s allegations and asserted that Romania “meets all the technical conditions for accession to the Schengen area.”

Romania “cannot be undeservedly and unjustifiably sanctioned” for a problem in which it plays no role, he asserted.

He also called out his Austrian counterpart Gerhard Karner for backtracking on a promise he made in February to support Romania’s Schengen accession.

“Romania is ready and deserves to join the Schengen area, and the accession is not a danger for anyone, but a way to strengthen the Schengen area,” said Bode.

* Writing by Ahmet Gencturk in Ankara