Office of the commissioner for fundamental rights of hungary

Hungarian citizens have turned to Dr. Ákos Kozma, the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary, about the the closure of the road connecting the villages of Somfalva (Schattendorf) and Ágfalva.

They complained that local council of Somfalva in Austria had closed the road -built with EU co-financing- connecting the village to Ágfalva on the Hungarian side of the border first in January 2023 in the morning and evening hours, preventing Hungarian residents from travelling to work in Austria by car. Since 1 March 2023 the road has been fully blocked because of construction works.
After 1 July 2023, local council of Somfalva decided to allow the use of the road only on the basis of individual requests, with the introduction of further restrictions by making the use of the road subject to the payment of a predetermined fee.
In view of the fact that the measures restricting the entry of Hungarian citizens into Austria risk violating the fundamental right to free movement of persons and labor, Dr. Ákos Kozma asked Gaby Schwarz, head of the Austrian Ombudsman's Office, whether, when and to what extent the Austrian Ombudsman's Office had taken action against the measures already introduced and planned to be introduced by Somfalva, and whether the Austrian Ombudsman's Office had taken any measures to prevent the entry of Hungarian citizens into Austria.
If there is no such examination has been started, the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary will open an inquiry with the Austrian Ombudsman.
Dr. Ákos Kozma asked his Austrian counterpart to help find a solution that would be satisfactory for the citizens of both states.