EUR 160 fee for passing a Hungarian-Austrian border crossing point

A demonstration has been organised at the Austrian border because from July, a EUR 160 fee will be charged for those wishing to enter Austria at the Schattendorf-Ágfalva border crossing.

EUR 160 for crossing the border

The leaders of the Austrian municipality of Schattendorf have decided that from July a fee of EUR 160 will be charged to those wishing to enter Austria from Hungary. The fee will be valid for two years and most of the EUR 140 can be used as vouchers in local shops.

However, the Hungarian protesters still consider it unfair. The Austrian mayor justified the decision by saying that the Hungarian commuters were causing a lot of accidents and that this was troublesome for Austrians.

A local resident told RTL Hirado: “so now, if someone pays 160 euros, it won’t bother the locals anymore? I think it’s a rhetorical question, or will everyone use that sum to install sound-proof windows? The whole thing is puzzling to me.”

In addition, according to pénzcentrum.hu, not everyone who pays the fee is granted a permit. The approval is handled by the Austrian authorities.

What is the solution?

According to the mayor of Ágfalva, there may be another solution. “The only solution, which has been voiced by the local population, is to build more roads where there is a need,” the mayor said.