Since July 2023, driving through the border crossing is only allowed with a permit that costs 160 euros.Continue reading
A road in Burgenland has been closed with a concrete barrier, making life difficult for many Hungarian commuters who were able to take a significant shortcut to their Austrian workplaces on the route, Telex reported. The closure is located in Austria, between Klingenbach (Kelénpatak) and Siegendorf (Cinfalva), a few kilometers from the border crossing in Sopron.
The municipality of Klingenbach had taken the initiative to close the road, citing increased traffic, and with the approval of the province, concrete barriers have been put in place in recent days. The portal points out that
they have made no secret of the fact that the decision is aimed at reducing traffic from Hungary.
On the Austrian side, an increasing number of municipalities are trying to prevent traffic from rushing through their streets, and in recent years several small border crossings in the area have been closed. However, these measures are only forcing commuters to seek new detours.
One such closed border crossing, for instance, is between Shattendorf (Somfalva) and Ágfalva, that has attracted a lot of media attention. Although, following complaints by commuters, the European Commission and the Hungarian Ombudsman have taken up the matter, it remained unresolved and eventually led to legal action. As reported in Hungary Today, law firm NZP Nagy Legal has sued the municipality of Schattendorf, claiming that the closure of the border crossing between Austria and Hungary violates EU law. The first conflict at the Ágfalva-Shattendorf border crossing occurred in March 2023 when the Austrian municipality closed it for construction works.
When it reopened in July, it was discovered that retractable posts and a pedestrian zone had been placed there and that driving through the crossing was only allowed with a permit. The permit, valid for two years, costs 160 euros.
Photo: Hungary Today
Lawyer Dr. Máté Ruzicska told Telex that these measures from the Austrian side could set a precedent and further closures could be expected. Ruzicska and his law firm have previously sued for damages the Republic of Austria over the border controls, that have been “temporarily” in place since 2015. Although the court rejected the claim, an administrative lawsuit is still pending over the closures, the portal adds.
Effective representation of the interests of Hungarian commuters would require political will at EU level, but so far it does not seem to be materializing. However, lawyers say Hungary could have the opportunity to take action against Austrian restrictions on the basis of EU law.
Via Telex, Featured image: Pexels