Status: 04.07.2018, 13:41 Uhr
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The journey to or through Austria will soon be more arduous than usual. For security reasons, the Alpine republic monitors many border crossings for ten days. The Brenner Pass could become the eye of the needle – and right before and after the summer holidays in Bavaria!
Brenner – Bad news for holidaymakers: Austria will introduce controls at several border crossings with Germany and Italy for five days each in July and September: from 9 to 13 July and from 17 September to 21 September. The summer holidays in Bavaria start on 30 July and end on 10 September.
This is not a reaction to the controversial German asylum plans, but a measure that has been planned for some time, said a spokesman for the Interior Ministry in Vienna on Wednesday (4 June). The step was taken in coordination with Brussels to maintain security and order during events of the Austrian EU Council Presidency.
Meeting of politicians: this is the reason for border controls
The occasion for the respective period is the meeting of EU interior ministers on 12 and 13 July in Innsbruck and the meeting of EU heads of state and government on 20 September in Salzburg. This means that there will also be controls at the Austrian-Italian Brenner border pass, which is used by many holidaymakers.
"It's not about stopping the columns of holidaymakers, but about meaningful and effective control," the spokesman continued. Proportionality should be maintained.
Concerns about border controls: "catastrophic effects"
Travelers and truck drivers must be prepared for traffic to slow down to walking pace. "If every truck, every car is now checked, then it is a great damage to the economy. This has a catastrophic impact on the economy. That costs a lot of time and money," said the mayor of the municipality of Brenner, Franz Kompatscher, the German Press Agency.
There have often been traffic obstructions on German motorways due to border controls. © dpa / Armin Weigel
Should it be necessary, the authorities are also prepared to set up technical barriers, the ministry spokesman continued. This also includes a fence about 400 meters long, which can be erected if necessary.
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Border controls are carried out in a politically explosive situation
The move comes in a politically explosive situation. In view of Germany's asylum plans to turn certain refugees back to Austria, the government in Vienna has already announced its intention to strengthen border controls in the fight against illegal migration.
So far, checks have only been carried out on entry from Slovenia and Hungary. Now, in addition to the Brenner Pass, the border crossings from the province of Tyrol to the Federal Republic of Germany are also affected by the temporary measure.
Dpa
