After transit lawsuit

Schallenberg criticizes Italy: “The wrong way”

Schallenberg is disappointed with Salvini.

(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) has criticized the fact that Italy is taking legal action against Austria at EU level in the transit issue. "Taking legal action is certainly the wrong way to go," said Schallenberg on Saturday on the fringes of the Munich Security Conference, addressing Italian Transport Minister Matteo Salvini.

At the same time, he emphasized Austria's continued willingness to engage in dialogue in the conflict. Schallenberg spoke of an extraordinary burden on Tyrol in terms of Alpine transit: The federal state has to cope with more than all other crossings put together, he said.

"Can't go on like this" 
"If trucks take detours of hundreds of kilometers because Tyrol is simply cheaper than the Swiss passes", one cannot say "this must continue", even against the background of sustainability and climate considerations.

On Thursday, Italy sent an already decided complaint to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) regarding the Tyrolean measures to curb and channel road transit traffic to the EU Commission and called on the Brussels authority to initiate EU infringement proceedings against Austria. The federal government believes Austria is in the right.

Three-month deadline
The EU Commission now has three months to decide on infringement proceedings against Austria or to issue a statement. In the event of infringement proceedings, Austria will be given the opportunity to comment. The states involved can submit written and oral comments in an adversarial procedure. If the EU Commission does not issue a statement within three months or refrains from taking legal action, Italy itself can take legal action directly before the ECJ.

The dispute over transit through Tyrol has been simmering for years.

(Bild: Huber Patrick)

Slot system needs state treaty
Last April, the heads of the provinces of Bavaria, Tyrol and South Tyrol - Markus Söder (CSU), Anton Mattle (ÖVP) and Arno Kompatscher (SVP) - presented a "slot system" in Kufstein to great public effect. However, an international treaty between Austria, Germany and Italy would have to be concluded for such a digital, cross-border traffic management system. In Munich, Schallenberg also discussed the transit issue, which affects Germany as a source and destination country no less than Italy, with the Bavarian Minister President Söder and the German opposition leader, CDU leader Friedrich Merz.