Austria bans truck transit for two thirds of total cargo
The Brenner Pass in Austria has always been one of the most important routes across the Alps. A recently adopted drastic tightening of the Austrian sectorial traffic ban will forbid most trucks to cross the pass as from January 2020.
The German federal association of road haulage, logistics and disposal (Bundesverband Güterkraftverkehr Logistik und Entsorgung, BGL) has now sent an urgent letter to the German federal government, asking for its support in this matter.
Prof. Dr. Dirk Engelhardt, the spokesman of the management board at BGL: “Since the EU commission has so far stood idly by while this ban completely runs counter to the free movement of goods guaranteed by EU legislation, it is inevitable that Germany will take Austria to court.”
According to BGL, Austria’s transit blockade threatens to cause supply shortages on both sides of the Alps as well as bankruptcies among many medium-sized transport companies. (ben)