International lawyers protest against banning Hungarians from Austrian border – VIDEO
At the border crossing between Somfala (Schattendorf) and Ágfalva (Agendorf), a fee is charged for the crossing. So far, only the local residents have protested, but now international lawyers have taken issue with the latest decree closing the border.
A controversial case at the Austrian border
As we reported earlier, at the Somfalva-Ágfalva (Schattendorf-Agendorf) border crossing, you have to pay EUR 160 to cross. Of this, EUR 140 can be used as vouchers in Austrian shops and the permit is valid for two years.
Local residents have organised demonstrations to express their discontent. They have now been joined by international lawyers who have challenged the border closure decree.
They have asked the Austrian Constitutional Court for a review of the rules, lodged a complaint with the European Commission, filed a complaint with OLAF and filed a compensation lawsuit over the situation between Ágfalva and Somfalva, HírTV reported.
Is the new law a breach of convention?
Napi.hu writes that the new measure, which goes against the new common European agreements, violates the rights of those who want to cross. The Austrians justify the new law by the regulation to the increase in traffic and the more accidents that this causes. However, commuters feel the Austrian mayor’s charging measure is unfair.
In Somfalva, the installation of automatic bollards, or sinking posts, a few weeks ago was intended to prevent cars from crossing the border without a sticker.
Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in July that he had appealed to the European integration minister, who also oversees EU funds, to “be kind and take steps to ensure that the province of Burgenland or the local government does not take any steps that are contrary to common European agreements”.
“Clearly we are right, European rules also dictate that these border crossings should be opened up,” Szijjártó added.
Locals have said that the good neighbourly relations between the two settlements have ceased, even though they used to organise joint programmes on numerous occasions.