Karl Nehammer made people sit up during his visit to Tyrol on Tuesday: he demanded truck tariffs like those in Switzerland to avoid detours via the Brenner Pass. The gap is currently 100 euros, and the European Commission has granted four euros extra tolls in Austria.
Visits to companies, meetings with businesses and farmers’ associations and hearing what the mayors have to say: that is the mission of Chancellor Karl Nehammer during his tour of Austria. In the morning he visited Innio Jenbacher GmbH from Styria, where the students were able to have direct conversations with the Chancellor, Governor Anton Mattle and President of the Chamber of Commerce Barbara Thaler.
In the evening, Minister of Agriculture Norbert Totschnig also joined the group for a summer lecture at the Schnead and Köck mountain farm of the Fender family on Pillberg.
Federal government on Tyrol’s side
But what did the Chancellor have in store for the Tyroleans as a gift? The topic of transit was best suited for one or two tangible promises. On Friday, FP boss Herbert Kickl will visit the Lueg Bridge over the Brenner. The Chancellor has no plans for that. He knows the distillery very well. “Someone else may have to catch up on the practical knowledge first.”
When it comes to transit policy, the federal government supports the Tyrolean state policy 100 percent. He sees the much-discussed slot system for trucks with bookable time slots as a good compromise solution that can provide a quick solution. He maintains close contact with the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Massive diversion traffic via the Brenner
However, the Chancellor made sure that people sat up and took notice of his demand for a huge increase in truck rates, like in Switzerland. “As long as the toll there is 100 euros more expensive than in Austria, bypass traffic is more valuable to the freight carriers than tank tourism,” Nehammer said.
“Okay, stick with it”
“I spoke to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen about a toll scheme that would actually help Austria, so that diversionary traffic becomes less attractive. The Commission was unable and unwilling to give us that at the moment. During the negotiations, we managed to persuade the Commission to allow us to increase the toll in Austria by four euros – compared to a difference of over 100 euros compared to Switzerland. But I still think it is right to stick with it. If we had the same tolls, we would have a very different burden.”
The increase to Swiss level would be possible through a special privilege. But: “The EU did not want it.”
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
