An Austrian court is set to review a civil case this week filed against the town of Schattendorf, following its decision to install electronic barriers at its main border crossing with Hungary earlier this year. The move has escalated tensions between the two European Union member states, prompting allegations of violating the bloc’s rules on freedom of movement.
Since last summer, parking lots at the Schattendorf crossing on the Austria-Hungary border have seen an unusual increase in vehicles. This surge is not due to more people entering Austria but because commuters relying on this route have had to acquire a second car after the installation of the electronic barriers.
Ferenc Tauber, a resident of Ágfalva, a Hungarian town across the border, explains: “These cars belong to Ágfalva residents. They drive here, leave their cars, walk to the other side, find another waiting car, and head to work.”
Officials in Schattendorf argue that the barriers were installed to reduce traffic congestion and enhance road safety. However, residents of Ágfalva contend that the town’s actions breach European Union regulations, noting that both Austria and Hungary are part of the Schengen Zone, which permits free movement between member states.
The legal dispute highlights the complexities of border management within the EU and raises questions about the balance between local concerns and continental agreements on mobility.
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Austria-Hungary legal battle begins over electronic barriers at border
cgtn.com
