Rome is taking Austria to the EU court over highway restrictions on its border. The measures were introduced to protect residents of Tyrol, but proved unpopular with truck drivers heading to Germany.
Thousands of vehicles cross the Austrian-Italian border every day through the Brenner Tunnel, but the people of Tyrol, who suffer from noise and air pollution, are so dissatisfied that the local government has decided to limit the number of vehicles allowed to pass. road.
Transport Minister Matteo Salvini of the far-right Lega party initially responded to the restrictions with threats, but on Thursday he confirmed that Italy would take the issue to the EU court.
“Italy has formally requested the European Commission to proceed with the infringement procedure,” Salvini said on Thursday.
He vowed to end “Austria’s harmful truck blockade on the Brenner River” and said restrictions imposed by the state of Tyrol, including limits on the number of trucks and weekend and night traffic bans, were in line with EU rules on free movement. claimed to be in violation of the rules. Goods.
The European Commission has up to three months to issue a reasoned opinion on the complaint before Italy takes Austria to the EU’s top court.
But Salvini’s announcement did not deter Austrian Transport Minister Leonore Gewessler from speaking out.
“We have made a good case. Our measures comply with the law and are also required under EU law. We will explain this to the Commission as well. Therefore, legally it is very relaxed. ” she said in a statement.
(Nikolaus J. Kirmeyer | Euractiv.de)
