E-VITA

Bratislava is located at a short distance from Vienna. Slovakia now part of the EU people from both sides of the border can travel to the other side freely and without particular formalities, although some restrictions still remain even now (e.g. green-card program for working in Austria). Nowadays people can move from Bratislava to Vienna in very little time for recreation, work or shopping, take a train from one of Vienna’s train stations or choose to fly from Vienna airport if they wish to travel to a specific location that is better served from there etc.
However, in the past travelling from Bratislava to Vienna was relatively difficult for citizens of the then Czechoslovakia. Everyone wishing to travel abroad would need to obtain a special permit from the state, in order to be allowed to.
Even later when the applying rules became less strict, Slovak citizens crossing the border would experience several setbacks. Before Slovakia joined the Schengen system, the border checks were annoying but necessary part of everyday travelling to Austria. Sometimes the quickness of check depended just on a good willing of border police officer. Once the officers even forgot to open the desk and the train went to Vienna without passengers.

With the Schengen, crossing the borders became imperceptible and with the new highway people form Bratislava could reach Vienna in 40 minutes. Bratislava public transport system started to operate also in villages in Austria. They are close to the city and people from city are buying houses in near villages.
But the police striked again also here. Just when the first buses started to operate in these villages, police made several checks of the bus passengers. And it was really problem for the bus operating every 30 minutes to stop somewhere in the middle of the fields for 20 minutes.

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