Germany, Austria and Italy: What's next in the dispute over the Brenner route

Highlights: Bavaria, Tyrol and South Tyrol have outlined a way to settle the ongoing dispute over the completely congested Brenner route. Germany, Austria and Italy are asking the EU Commission to invite to a ministerial meeting by July. The aim is to equalize traffic, avoid traffic jams and protect residents in the affected regions from the consequences of traffic. But many points are still open, and a final agreement at the level of the states is missing – important questions and answers on the Brenner dispute.

Bavaria, Tyrol and South Tyrol have outlined a way to settle the ongoing dispute over the completely congested Brenner route. These are the most important questions and answers about the conflict.

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Brenner motorway: Next stage in the ongoing dispute

Photo: Sven Hoppe / dpa

After the agreement between Bavaria, Tyrol and South Tyrol to relieve the Brenner route in April, the next step towards resolving the ongoing dispute may now be on the horizon. Germany, Austria and Italy are asking the EU Commission to invite to a ministerial meeting by July, as Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing said after a meeting with his EU counterparts.

"The upcoming talks are a real light at the end of the tunnel," said the FDP politician. But many points are still open, and a final agreement at the level of the states is missing – important questions and answers on the Brenner dispute:

What do the Brenner regions of Bavaria, Tyrol and South Tyrol want?

In April, the three direct neighbours of the Brenner route across the Alps – Bavaria, Tyrol and South Tyrol – spoke out in favour of the introduction of a digital traffic management system for freight transport. Trucks will have to book certain time slots for the route over the important Alpine pass. The aim is to equalize traffic, avoid traffic jams and protect residents in the affected regions from the consequences of traffic.

What is the problem with the implementation of the solution compromise?

In the end, the legal basis should be an intergovernmental agreement between Italy, Austria and Germany. It remains to be seen to what extent this could be further advanced. "So far, however, we have not received a response to our proposals from either Berlin or Brussels. I am pleased that all three nation states now want to meet at ministerial level," said Bavaria's Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter (CSU).

What does the German Government have to say about the trilateral compromise proposal?

According to a report in the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Wissing is rather skeptical about him. Although the Federal Ministry of Transport welcomes "any agreement that brings about an actual improvement in the difficult traffic situation at the Brenner Pass", the free movement of goods must actually and sustainably be improved. Systems that continue block handling by means of digitization do not change the principle of quotas."

What do Austria and Italy say?

Austria's Transport Minister Leonore Gewessler has reportedly expressed support for a slot system. On the other hand, her Italian colleague Matteo Salvini was quoted as saying that he will not even discuss the slot system as long as Austria and Tyrol do not end block clearance.

What do the affected freight forwarders and transit opponents say?

In principle, the State Association of Bavarian Freight Forwarders supports the slot system, but sees many unanswered questions. For example, what happens if a time corridor cannot be reached through no fault of one's own due to traffic jams or accidents. Tyrolean transit opponents, on the other hand, fear that the traffic load will increase. Truck traffic via the Brenner route has increased significantly in recent decades – in 2022 there were 2.5 million trucks, accounting for 40 percent of total Alpine transit in freight transport.

Are there other solutions on the table?

Not yet. All variants discussed in the past, such as a generally higher Brenner toll, subsequently disappeared into oblivion as unproductive solutions. The block handling currently being promoted by Tyrol – and subsequently also by Bavaria – in certain regions
is generally considered to be a solution that is not sustainable in the long term. The logistics industry in particular is critical of the traffic jams at the borders, some of which are tens of kilometers long.

What about the threatened lawsuit against block clearance?

Even though politicians such as CSU MEP Markus Ferber repeatedly address the lawsuit, its implementation is currently unlikely. This could only be submitted by the German government or the EU Commission. The desired quick solution would thus be a long way off. "We rely on compromises, the alternative of a lawsuit is slower and less sustainable," said Bernreiter. According to the ADAC, the next block clearance is now planned for Saturday (3 June).

mik/dpa-AFX