Italy businesses blame Austria for border traffic jams

Rome: Italy's Confindustria big business lobby accused the Austrian government Thursday of requiring Italian truck drivers to undergo "senseless" coronavirus controls at the border that are causing massive traffic jams.
"For two days, drivers of vehicles transporting Italian goods who have to cross (Austria) to go to Germany and northern Europe are being subjected to direct temperature controls," Confindustria said in a statement.
"This simple and senseless operation, which has no precautionary effect, creates traffic jams stretching 70-80 kilometres (45-50 miles)," it said.
Confindustria asked the European Commission to intervene and "sanction Austria and any other member state" that takes "blatantly harmful and discriminatory" measures against Italian companies.
Italy has borne the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic in Europe, recording 827 deaths and nearly 12,500 infection in slightly over two weeks.
A range of countries have suspended either air, sea or land links with Italy or limited them in various ways.
The Austrian government issued no immediate response to the Italian business lobby's statement.
The Italian lobby said perishable goods being hauled by the truck drivers were spoiling and causing "incalculable damage to our exports and European trade".