Listen to the audio model of the article
In the bitter dispute between Italy and Austria over the bans on the circulation of heavy automobiles (Lorries) imposed unilaterally by Vienna alongside the Brenner motorway hall, our nation has gained some extent in its favor which might resolve the destiny of this lengthy arm of iron. Yesterday the European Commission, which in April had summoned the representatives of the 2 governments to a listening to in Brussels, formally censured, via a reasoned opinion, the obstructionist coverage adopted by Austria. A coverage that Italy has at all times contested as a result of it’s opposite to the founding precept of the EU, i.e. the free motion of products and folks. The Brenner hall is strategic for the Italian economic system, as a result of it carries a big a part of our direct exports to Europe and ensures the procurement and provide of uncooked supplies and semi-finished merchandise to the nationwide processing business. Since 2010, to guard air high quality, Tyrol has launched a sequence of bans on the transit of vehicles: the primary was the ban on evening transit.
Appeal to the Court of Justice
The information of the EU censorship was welcomed with “nice satisfaction” by the MIT (Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport) and particularly by Minister Matteo Salvini, who has spent numerous effort to guard Italian pursuits alongside the Brenner hall, even on a private stage . Italy, explains the MIT in a be aware, will now proceed to formalize the enchantment to the European Court of Justice as required by artwork. 259 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the Union (TFEU) to re-establish a authorized framework favorable to companies and defend the precept of freedom inside the EU.
On the idea of the request offered by Italy in February, the MIT remembers, «the Commission has unequivocally censured all of the Austrian bans on visitors alongside the Brenner hall as they’re opposite to the free motion of products supplied for by articles 34 and 35 of the Tfue ». The Commission’s opinion “subsequently demonstrates the goodness of the place of the Italian authorities” which, following robust enter from Deputy Prime Minister Salvini, determined to take the judicial path after years of discussions geared toward discovering a negotiated answer, pissed off by Austrian intransigence. “It’s one other promise saved,” feedback Salvini.
The opinion of the Commission
In the reasoned opinion, which Il Sole 24 Ore was in a position to view, the Commission censures all of the Austrian bans launched by the Land of Tyrol: the ban on the night-time transit of heavy automobiles; sectoral bans (have an effect on vehicles transporting sure classes of products reminiscent of timber, marble, tiles, iron ore, stone, cement, pipes, paper and cardboard and different items); the winter visitors ban on Saturdays and the dosing system, i.e. all these measures which on sure days restrict the variety of vehicles that may enter the A12 motorway close to Kufstein to a most of 300 automobiles per hour. «While paying attention to some explanations put ahead by Austria in relation to environmental issues», the EU believes that «the Austrian measures lack coherence and can’t be justified of their entirety». Rome can now resolve to take Vienna to the EU Court of Justice.
The reactions
The street haulage classes rejoice. Riccardo Morelli, president of Anita (Confindustria), says: «The information represents a big victory for our nation and for the businesses that transfer the nationwide economic system each day, bringing Made in Italy to Northern Europe». Comments Paolo Uggè, president of Fai-Conftrasporto and at all times a proud opponent of Vienna’s obstructionist coverage: «An necessary step, we are actually ready for the Supreme Court, however it will likely be crucial to right away take away the restrictions and divulge heart’s contents to a dialogue that results in ample options that assure the respect for the setting and that of freedom of motion”.