Hungary frustrated as Vienna baulks on borders

...European Union, was treating the former communist country like a second-class member of the bloc.

Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany told Austrian newspaper Der Standard that a range of issues -- from border patrols after 2008 to charges that Austrian companies polluted Hungarian rivers -- were damaging relations.

"Every nation has its pride, its self-esteem and its interests... It's like in a long marriage which has become too convenient," he said in an interview.

Austria's ex-communist neighbours Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia joined the European Union in 2004 and are due to join the EU's Schengen open-border zone next January, but Vienna still wants to maintain joint patrols on its frontiers.

"How should I explain that we are a Schengen member but our Austrian friends are still controlling (passports)? And should we do the same... Should we just stop Austrians at the border?" Gyurcsany said.

Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg has said a threat by Vienna to reintroduce controls when it hosts the Euro-2008 soccer tournament would be considered "a hostile gesture", although Prague supports the joint patrols.

Keywords: HUNGARY AUSTRIA/