Damon Mcknight
Austria has been in the news recently for its border policies. In March 2025, Germany was reportedly forming a secret alliance with Austria and other neighbouring countries to turn away migrants at their borders. Austria threatened to refuse immigrants turned away at the German border, which would have led to a full-blown migration crisis within the EU. Separately, in April 2025, Austria closed 24 border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. This highly infectious disease poses no danger to humans but affects cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals. In June 2025, Austria plans to open its borders to 20 countries, lifting checks at its border with Italy and ending quarantine requirements for travellers from over 20 European countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of border closure | 2025-04-06 |
| Reason for border closure | Foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in neighbouring countries |
| Countries affected by border closure | Hungary, Slovakia |
| Number of border crossings closed | 24 |
| Countries exempt from border openings | Sweden, Great Britain, Spain, Portugal |
| Countries with lifted border restrictions | Italy |
| Countries Austria has threatened to refuse immigrants from | Germany |
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What You'll Learn
- Austria closed 24 border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia due to a foot-and-mouth outbreak
- Austria plans to open its borders to 20 countries, excluding Sweden, Great Britain, Spain and Portugal
- Austria has threatened to refuse immigrants turned away at the German border
- Austria's border with Italy will have no checks from June 16, 2022
- Austria's border closures cause delays for road freight transport
Austria closed 24 border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia due to a foot-and-mouth outbreak
Austria has closed 24 border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease and protect its livestock. The disease, which poses no danger to humans, was first detected in Hungary on 7 March on a dairy farm in Kisbajcs, close to the Slovakian border. Hungary had its first outbreak of the highly infectious disease in 50 years, prompting the country to deploy soldiers and launch disinfection measures to contain it in the area bordering Slovakia and Austria. Slovakia confirmed outbreaks on its farms close to the Hungarian border on 21 March, a region important for Slovakian livestock production, and subsequently declared a state of emergency.
The Austrian Interior Ministry announced the closure of two smaller crossings at its border with Slovakia and 21 at its border with Hungary from Saturday onwards to prevent the disease from entering the country. The highly infectious disease mostly affects cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals like swine, sheep, and goats, causing fever and mouth blisters. Outbreaks often lead to trade restrictions and culls of some livestock.
Austrian health authorities are conducting rigorous checks at the remaining open border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia. Cars and pedestrians must cross over an epidemic mat to prevent the virus from spreading. Police are also searching vehicles for meat products and implementing strict measures to help prevent the spread of the disease.
The border crossings that remain open have taken extended control measures to ensure that no living animals or meat products are transported across the border. The closures are expected to last until May 20, and Austrian hunters have been urged to monitor potentially infected wildlife during this period.
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Austria plans to open its borders to 20 countries, excluding Sweden, Great Britain, Spain and Portugal
Austria has announced that it will open its borders to 20 countries, notably excluding Sweden, Great Britain, Spain, and Portugal. This development comes as a relief to many, particularly those from neighbouring Germany, a significant source of tourism for Austria. Austrians will now be able to travel to popular summer destinations like Italy and Croatia without the hassle of quarantine or negative tests upon their return.
The decision to exclude the four European countries mentioned above is not without precedent. Previously, Austria had shut down 24 border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia due to a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. This highly infectious disease primarily affects cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals, and the closure was a preventive measure to stop its spread.
Austria's border control policies have also been influenced by immigration concerns. Germany, Austria's neighbour, has been forming a secret alliance with other European countries to turn away migrants at their borders. Austria has threatened to refuse to accept immigrants turned away at the German border, which could potentially lead to a full-blown migration crisis within the EU.
While the precise details of Germany's plan remain unclear, it is known that Friedrich Merz, Germany's next chancellor, is under pressure to reduce the number of refugee arrivals into the country. Austria's decision to open its borders to 20 countries, excluding those with high immigration rates like Sweden, Great Britain, Spain, and Portugal, may be influenced by these regional immigration dynamics.
Austria's border policies have also been shaped by disease control and prevention measures. In the past, Austria mandated rigorous checks at the few open border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia, including the use of epidemic mats for vehicles and pedestrians, to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. These measures showcase Austria's proactive approach to safeguarding the health and safety of its citizens and visitors.
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Austria has threatened to refuse immigrants turned away at the German border
Austria's interior minister, Gerhard Karner, has objected to the plan, stating that Vienna is not prepared to receive any migrants turned back at the German border. Austria has previously turned away migrants at its borders, particularly at the Brenner border crossing with Italy. In 2016, Austrian police reported turning away 35-50 people per day who entered illegally from Italy, a significant increase from the previous months.
Austria's current stance on refusing immigrants turned away by Germany highlights the complexity of migration politics within the EU. It remains to be seen whether Austria will maintain its position if Germany implements its plan to turn away asylum seekers. The potential impact on the movement of people within the EU and the broader political ramifications are crucial considerations for all involved parties.
Austria's threat to refuse immigrants underscores the challenges faced by European countries in managing migration and asylum processes. It also raises questions about the future of the Schengen region, which allows for visa-free travel between most EU member states. The situation is further complicated by the involvement of non-EU countries, such as Switzerland, which is reportedly part of Germany's "secret alliance."
Overall, Austria's stance on refusing immigrants turned away at the German border adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing migration debates within the EU. With Austria's history of managing its borders and the potential for far-reaching consequences, the development of this situation bears close observation.
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Austria's border with Italy will have no checks from June 16, 2022
Austria will lift all coronavirus-related border restrictions, including quarantines, for all neighbouring countries except Italy as of June 16, 2022. The Austrian government has stated that the pandemic figures in Italy do not yet allow for such a step, with the aim to lift checks at the Italian border as soon as possible. Austria's Foreign Minister, Alexander Schallenberg, announced that Austria is opening its borders to all EU, EFTA (European Free Trade Association), and EEA (European Economic Area) states, with four exceptions: Sweden, Great Britain, Spain, and Portugal.
Austria's border restrictions with Italy have been a cause for concern for transportation companies, as the Brenner Pass is the most important Alpine crossing for heavy goods traffic. Approximately two million trucks cross the highway across the Brenner Pass annually, and stricter border controls could result in higher costs and slower services for transportation companies operating in the region.
The European Commission has also expressed concern over Austria's plans to tighten border controls at the Brenner Pass, stating that the Brenner Pass is essential for the freedom of movement within the European Union. Italy's European Affairs Minister, Sandro Gozi, emphasized that erecting walls is not the solution to problems and that the decision by Austria runs counter to the spirit and letter of European rules and the friendship between the two countries.
The decision to maintain border restrictions with Italy comes as Austria takes a tough response to Europe's migration crisis. With border restrictions imposed along the Balkan route, Austria expects migrant arrivals to Italy by sea to nearly double this year. Austria plans to introduce tougher border controls at the Brenner Pass, similar to the system in place at its border with Slovenia, which includes fences, lanes, and tents.
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Austria's border closures cause delays for road freight transport
Austria has closed 24 border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia in an attempt to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. This has caused delays for road freight transport, with vehicles required to cross over an epidemic mat and be searched for meat products at the few border crossings that remain open. The closures took effect on April 5 and are set to remain in place until midnight on May 20.
The decision to close the border crossings was made in response to the first reported case of foot-and-mouth disease in Hungary on March 7, which was detected on a dairy farm in Kisbajcs, close to the Slovakian border. Since then, Slovakia has also reported outbreaks on farms near the Hungarian border. In response to the outbreak, Hungary deployed soldiers and implemented disinfection measures, including the use of epidemic rugs at border crossings, to contain the disease.
The closure of the border crossings has had a significant impact on road freight transport. Freight transporters now face delays and additional inspections when crossing the border. The European Association of Abnormal Road Transport and Mobile Cranes (ESTA) has expressed concern over the impact of the closures on the supply chain, with offshore vessel operators potentially facing disruptions and increased costs.
In addition to the closures due to the foot-and-mouth outbreak, Austria has also previously blocked border crossings to prevent traffic build-up and protect the peace of its residents. In December 2024, several roads in Burgenland were closed due to an increase in cross-border commuters, particularly those commuting from Hungary for work. This led to a build-up of parked cars near the border, with some people opting to walk or cycle to work instead.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria has opened its borders to all EU, EFTA (European Free Trade Association), and EEA (European Economic Area) states except for Sweden, Great Britain, Spain, and Portugal. Austria has also lifted checks at its border with Italy and ended the requirement for the quarantining of travellers arriving from over 20 European countries.
Austria closed 24 border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia due to a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. The disease was first detected in Hungary on a dairy farm in Kisbajcs, close to the Slovakian border. This led to the deployment of soldiers and the implementation of immediate health control measures, including the culling of livestock and the introduction of restricted zones.
At the few open border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia, vehicles and pedestrians must cross over an epidemic mat to disinfect and prevent the virus from spreading. Police are also searching vehicles for meat products.
