Slovakian-Hungarian border region

• Author: Viaggi, Raffaele; Rubio, Jean; Peyrony, Jean
• Pages: 47-48

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

CASE STUDIES

47

Slovakian-Hungarian border

region

Border controls and

cross-border mobility

(Reduced crossings

points, type of controls,

congestion, CB public

transport…)

The shutdown of the Slovakian-Hungarian border represented a se-

rious problem for many Slovak citizens who had moved to Hungary

without officially registering while commuting to work to Slovakia.

The problem had to do with the fact that, for them, the exception

was not valid. This authorisation was granted only when they com-

pleted their registration as a citizen living in Hungary, which took

some time.

Body temperature control was not systematic, while justification for

crossing the border was requested.

CB coordination and

dialogue during the

crisis and the de-con-

tainment phase

(Evolution in border con-

trols and effects of the

lifting of border controls)

On the Slovakian-Hungarian border section some decisions were

taken locally, often before they were announced nationally. Since in

Slovakia the institutions closed one week before, in Hungary the de-

cision to close everything was announced, in several settlements on

this border section such as Rajka.

Apart from this example, decisions were made in a hierarchical way:

at the local level the decisions were only executed. However, con-

tinuous dialogue between the municipalities on both sides was main-

tained.

Impact on cross-bor-

der workers

Cross-border workers were granted free movement after a couple of

days. During this time, those who could, worked remotely, the oth-

ers stayed on the Slovak side in hotels or at relatives’.

Impact on the users

of cross-border public

services (CPS)

(healthcare, information

to citizens, education…)

In the Hungarian side of the region there are children who attend

kindergartens and schools on the Slovak side. Theoretically, after

the closure of schools, children’s supervision should have been pro-

vided on the Slovak side, which could have been problematic due to

the border closure, but there was no big demand for it, therefore the

service was not provided on the Hungarian side either.

Impact on economic

activities

No serious economic impact has been reported along this border

section.