Austria - Hungary border region

AuthorViaggi, Raffaele; Rubio, Jean; Peyrony, Jean
Pages45-46
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 o f 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 im plemented on the national level.
Remote working was an op tion for some, b ut 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.

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