Austria - Hungary border region

• Author: Viaggi, Raffaele; Rubio, Jean; Peyrony, Jean
• Pages: 45-46

ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF BORDER-RELATED MEASURE S TAKEN BY MS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19

CASE STUDIES

45

Austria – Hungary border

region

Border controls and

cross-border mobility

(Reduced crossings points,

type of controls, conges-

tion, CB public transport…)

The same COVID-19 measures were introduced at the same time in the

Austrian-Hungarian border section as in the case of every Hungarian

border section: thus, the borders were closed in mid-March. Starting

from this date, only cross-border workers were allowed to commute.

During this period the type of controls were mostly administrative, the

authorization of travellers was checked (citizenship, employment cer-

tificate), but in some cases also body temperature controls were per-

formed.

Borders were reopened again for the summer.

CB coordination and dia-

logue during the crisis

and the de-containment

phase

(Evolution in border con-

trols and effects of the lift-

ing of border controls)

The CB coordination and dialogue were also strongly shaped by the

GYSEV, the Hungarian-Austrian railway company which continued its

service throughout the pandemic. Even though the decisions were made

on a national level (separately in Hungary, Austria and Slovakia where

the company also operates), the company managed to channel their

ways and experiences in the process which then was reflected upon in

the introduced measures (for example they conducted a corridor traffic

between two Austrian cities but passing through Hungary, which was a

situation that had to be regulated separately).

Impact on cross-border

workers

(Remote working and taxa-

tion, social security, unem-

ployment…)

Workers could travel during the pandemic (also by train), so a large

wave of unemployment was not recorded. Of course, new rules for the

staff of GYSEV train company had to be set up, so that they could be

allowed to cross the border with the train. In this case, the suggestions

of the company were accepted and implemented on the national level.

Remote working was an option for some, but considering that in the

Hungarian-Austrian border section about 50.000 people are commuting

across the border to work, it was a priority to keep them employed, as

the social security system would have seriously suffered.