Austria temporarily reintroduced border checks at the Austrian-Czech border
From 4 till 9 June 2011, Austria reintroduced border checks at its borders, including borders with the Czech Republic. The reason was the meeting of the World Economic Forum on Europe and Central Asia which took place on 8 – 9 June 2011 in Vienna.
From 4 June (0.00) till 9 June (24.00) crossing of the Czech-Austrian border was allowed only at former border crossing points and touristic paths. The Austrian Police carried out checks adequate to the situation. Border checks were reintroduced at all major border crossing points including air traffic. Border crossing points of regional/local importance and touristic paths were subject to random checks based on assessment of the security situation. Crossing of borders outside of the designated places or any attempts to avoid border checks could be punished according to the Austrian law.
Persons intending to visit Austria or to cross its territory between 4 and 9 June should have counted on border checks and should have tolerated them. All persons had to be able to prove their identity by showing a valid travel document (passport or ID in case of EU/EEA/CH citizens) and should have counted on possible further measures aiming at undermining movement of persons of which presence on the Austrian territory might endanger public order and security.
Austria temporarily reintroduced internal border control in line with the Schengen rules (Article 23 of the Schengen Borders Code) which – under certain rules - allow each Member State to exceptionally reintroduce border control at its internal borders where there is a serious threat to public order or internal security.