The Italian Minister of Transport announced to the Chamber that on April 8, 2024, the adversarial proceedings between Italy and Austria concerning the limitations and prohibitions set by the latter on the transit of commercial vehicles along the Brenner axis will commence before the European Commission. This hearing is the result of a formal procedure initiated by Rome under Article 259 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The minister clarified that the Commission must decide by May 15 whether to issue a reasoned opinion against Austria, adding that in any case, Italy could appeal to the European Court of Justice.
On the eve of the hearing, positions are being staked out on both fronts. Austrian Minister of Transport, Leonore Gewesser, stated that her Italian counterpart "defends the profits of the freight transport lobby," maintaining that Vienna will stick to its current policy. Without the bans, she added, the inhabitants of Tyrol would suffer "unbearable conditions," such as congestion, noise, and air pollution. Gewesser also reiterated that Austrian measures comply with EU regulations.
On the morning of April 4, the president of Fai Conftrasporto (Italian hauliers association), Paolo Uggè, countered the Austrian minister by arguing that industrial vehicles equipped with Euro VI engines pollute less than older ones with Austrian registration that continue to circulate freely in the country. He also pointed out that passenger cars traveling along the Brenner axis pollute without facing any restrictions. Uggè also reminded that in 2004, Austria "was contradicted in a trilogue on eco-points by the European Community."
