Söder and Stocker: Topics at the Transit in Vienna - solutions wanted!

Söder and Stocker: Topics at the Transit in Vienna - solutions wanted!

Wien, Österreich - On July 11, 2025, Markus Söder, the Bavarian Prime Minister, traveled to Vienna to meet the new Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP). The main topic of the conversation was the transit dispute between Bavaria and Tyrol that has been going on for years. In particular, the problems related to truck blocking in the Inn Valley determined the discussion, which always leads to hours of traffic jams due to excessive through traffic. As early as February 2022, Söder had held an unsuccessful meeting with the then Chancellor Karl Nehammer regarding similar topics. In a current interview, he said that it was urgently time to find pragmatic solutions because the dispute does not show any progress. The Tyrolean population suffers greatly from truck traffic and expects measures.

Tirol's governor Anton Mattle is optimistic that serious conversations are held about a slot system for trucks. Such a system could help to equalize traffic. Mattle points out that the number of trucks has increased significantly in recent years and that support from Berlin and Rome is necessary to relieve the burning corridor. Söder supports this initiative and urges the German government to make an active contribution after the Union is back on the government. Merkur reports that a toll to relocate the traffic to the Gotthardt route and a digital booking system for trucks came up, however, but so far failed.

the burner as a central traffic axis

The Brenner motorway, an important connection between Germany and Italy, not only attracts transit traffic, but is also under pressure through various controls and regulations. Tyrol and Bavaria have already introduced block dismissals and driving bans for truck, which leads to resentment, especially during the building season. Kurier reports that both Germany and Italy are dissatisfied with these measures and that Italy even strictly exerted a lawsuit in front of the European Court of Justice while Bavaria supports the lawsuit against Austria.

Chancellor Stocker and Söder also emphasize the need to rethink in relation to asylum issues and the control of illegal migration at the external borders. This could also lead to improving the traffic situation around the burner. Stocker plans to discuss the topic at an upcoming meeting with the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

traffic measures and challenges

The challenges on the Brenner increase because the existing traffic infrastructure requires renewal. The Brenner Base Tunnel, which is due to go into operation by 2032, could bring an improvement. But the construction work has stalled, especially on the northern inlet route. IHK Munich points out that there is already a driving calendar for 2025 in the transitrouten planning, which should contribute to optimal planning for the freight and road users.

There are already numerous traffic regulations: truck driving bans on certain days as well as speed and weight controls are in force. In addition, the renovation of the Lueg Bridge will lead to severe disabilities from 2025, as it must be driven on. It is clear that the topic around the burner not only affects the Tyrolean space, but also has far -reaching consequences for all European transit traffic.