Residential suburbanisation in the hinterland of Bratislava – a case study of municipalities in the Austrian border area

This paper provides an overview of the process of residential suburbanisation in the hinterland of Bratislava. The study focuses on the municipalities around the Austrian border area. The main aim of the paper is to investigate the characteristics of cross-border suburbanisation, which is a significant spatial phenomenon in the municipalities of northern Burgenland and the south-eastern part of Lower Austria. The analysis has a spatio-temporal dimension, as it depicts the time-space characteristics of the phenomenon – both for a single time point, as well as for a time series from the approximate beginning of the onset of suburbanisation up to the present. While monitoring the growth of the number of Slovaks in the study area, we observed a gradual increase in all the selected municipalities of the Austrian border area, with the distance from Bratislava being a significant factor here. The analysis of migration in the surveyed municipalities showed predominantly positive migration efficiency – immigration was negated by emigration only to a small extent (compared to suburbanisation in the Slovak hinterland of Bratislava, which is, however, relatively high). The structural characteristics of Slovak immigrants, where the younger age group of 30 to 44 years followed by a child component up to 14 years predominated, attest to the ongoing process of suburbanisation. The research confirmed the advancing residential suburbanisation and expansion of the cross-border suburban hinterland of Bratislava.

Vodní měkkýši přírodní rezervace Krabonošská niva [Aquatic molluscs of the Krabonošská niva Nature Reserve]

A floodplain of the Lužnice river at the Czech-Austrian border is protected by the Krabonošská niva Nature Reserve (Southern Bohemia, Czech Republic). This floodplain has a relatively natural character and, in addition to the Lužnice river, there is a high diversity of habitats at various stages of succession such as oxbows, pools and temporary wetlands. Altogether 20 species were found at 15 sites studied in 2021. Common and widespread gastropods Lymnaea stagnalis, Segmentina nitida and Planorbarius corneus belonged among the most often recorded species. Endangered Pisidium globulare was found at two sites, and only one non-native species Physa acuta was recorded. Molluscan assemblages are very similar to the assemblages of the neighboring Horní Lužnice Nature Reserve.

Italians on the Battlefield

From the period of neutrality onwards, Italy mobilized a mass conscript army which drew on Italians from around the peninsula as well as emigrants overseas, though after much debate colonial troops were not brought to Italy. Despite the lack of widespread war enthusiasm, most men within Italy complied with the draft, and the army was soon able to deploy over a million men at the front. For emigrants, the decision to return and fight was complex yet many did so. Fighting was concentrated along the Italo-Austrian border, where chief of general staff Cadorna hoped to break through Austrian defences. The tactical difficulties of trench warfare combined with difficult terrain led to strategic immobility along this front, with eleven battles fought along the river Isonzo. In 1917 a joint Austro-German attack at Caporetto achieved a major victory but Italy was able to recover and defend itself successfully, with Allied support, before eventually returning to the offensive in 1918.

Transnárodná a cezhraničná suburbánna migrácia na príklade rakúskej obce Kittsee

Austrian part of the Austrian-Slovak cross-border region in the hinterland of Bratislava is attractive for life to many Slovaks who have decided to move in here in recent years. The aim of the paper is to present the issue of cross-border residential suburbanization and transnational migration on the example of the Slovak population living in the Austrian border municipality of Kittsee. Through a questionnaire survey, we were trying to find out in which of the two countries (Slovakia and Austria) the respondents most often perform selected activities of everyday life, and what the reasons for and intensity of their trips to Slovakia are. The results of the survey showed that the majority of respondents carry out work activities and participate in cultural and sporting events mainly in Slovakia. On the contrary, in the municipality of residence or other Austrian municipalities, they mainly purchase daily consumer goods and their children attend pre-school and school facilities. The most common reason for traveling to Slovakia among the respondents is visiting family, friends and acquaintances. Based on the results, it is possible to state that in the Austrian-Slovak cross-border region there are tendencies of the phenomenon of transnational migration, in which the inhabitants enjoy the benefits of living in the area near the border.

Continuation of security rights in movable assets in conflict of laws – Austrian approach reconsidered

In decision no. 3 Ob 249/18sOGH [2019] 3 Ob 249/18s. the Austrian Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof, OGH) acknowledged a security right in a movable asset acquired abroad, although publicity requirements under Austrian law have not been observed before and after the movable asset crossed the Austrian border. Consequently, only the law of the country in which the movable asset is located upon the completion of the acquisition or loss shall be applicable to the acquisition or loss of a right in rem. Whether the transaction has been completed or not, is determined by the lex causae. No subsequent change in the applicable law occurs in relation to this question.The decision is analysed in this paper in the context of the former jurisprudence of the Austrian Supreme Court, which has been overturned by the present decision, and the positions published to date in legal literature. In addition, this paper provides an overview including aspects relating to EU law, the debate regarding overriding mandatory rules and fraus legis.

Morphological characteristics and distribution of Globodera species in Slovenia

Surveillance on cyst nematodes in Slovenia started already in 1963. We have found Globodera rostochiensis for the first time in 1971 and for the second time in 1975 (two cysts). In 1999 cysts of yellow potato cyst nematode were found again. A small hot spot was detected along the Slovene Austrian border. Cysts of Globodera rostochiensis were extracted from samples taken in 1.6 hectare field. In 2001 we surveyed 194 fields with the surface of 468.29 ha. We discovered another hot spot of Globodera rostochiensis in the Central Slovenia. Cysts of Globodera achilleae are seldom discovered in Slovenia. During the period between 1980 and 2000 we extracted altogether 206 cysts. In 2001 we found three fields where we extracted at first seven cysts. With more detailed survey we extracted another 30 cysts. In a few soil samples taken from the imported potatoes from Italy we have intercepted cysts of Globodera pallida. For that reason shipments were returned. In a similar way in 2002 shipments from Croatia were returned because of G. rostochiensis presence. Specimens of Globodera rostochiensis and G. achilleae species found in Slovenia were morphometricaly handeled.

Austria

This chapter discusses nuclear energy policy in Austria since the 1950s. It stresses that political parties were the main actors and decision-making on energy policy was strongly influenced by them. Building on the work of Strøm (1990) and Müller and Strøm (1999) it is argued that several position changes regarding nuclear energy were made by Austrian parties in response to public opinion, trading policy against votes or office. The Austrian case resembled other Western European countries until the 1970s, when a nuclear power plant was built but never made operational because of a negative referendum. After a decade of struggling with attempts at policy reversal, an anti-nuclear consensus was reached after Chernobyl. Soon parties did engage in a new form of competition on the nuclear issue—over their competence in fighting nuclear energy in other countries, in particular, plants close to the Austrian border.