Christophorus 9 during a patient transfer in Brno (Czech Republic) at the helipad of St. Anna Hospital
Major disasters have long known no borders between Austria and Hungary: Since 1998, an agreement has governed mutual assistance in the event of serious accidents. What had been missing until now was a framework for day-to-day operations—assistance “at the push of a button” for individual heart attacks or traffic accidents. This gap is closed by the intergovernmental framework agreement, which has been in force since September 13, 2025. Lower Austria is now negotiating regional agreements with Hungary regarding emergency notification procedures, digital control center interfaces, cost reimbursement, and liability. In an interview with Hungary Today, Siegfried Weinert of Lower Austria Emergency Hotline (Notruf Niederösterreich)—an internationally recognized expert on cross-border emergency medical services—explains the practical challenges facing the partners and how legal provisions are translated into real-life lifesaving actions.
In your view, what is the greatest immediate benefit of this cooperation for individual citizens in the border region?
If someone has a medical emergency, it should not matter which side of the national border they are on. Of course, this does not make the border disappear. But it should not, if at all possible, determine which appropriate emergency response resources can reach a patient.
Even more important to me, however, is the European dimension of this issue: Cross-border cooperation is Europe in action.
Good neighborly relations are not built during a crisis, but beforehand through regular contact and trust.
Ultimately, it is about the ability to act together when a situation exceeds the capabilities of a single country.
Budapest 2019 – How It All Began (Photo: freundlicherweise von Siegfried Weinert zur Verfügung gestellt)
Does cross-border cooperation and mutual assistance primarily apply to major accidents and disaster situations, or is the system also designed for routine, individual emergencies in everyday life?
Here lies a key difference: The older agreement from 1998 covers only disasters or serious accidents.
The new framework agreement goes much further. It is specifically intended to improve routine emergency medical services in the border region and thereby facilitate cooperation in everyday, individual emergencies.
In the event of major incidents, an additional dimension comes into play: we can expand our capacities to assist one another.
Cross-border operation in Lower Austria in collaboration with Kryštof 13 from České Budějovice (Photo: RK Waidhofen/Thaya; courtesy of Siegfried Weinert)
How does this cooperation work in practice? Is there an automatic obligation to provide assistance, and what advantage does direct control center cooperation offer in the case of misrouted emergency calls?
An important point: There is no automatic or unrestricted obligation. The system operates on a case-by-case basis through requests and confirmations. When a dispatch center requests assistance, the partner dispatch center assesses its resources and makes an operational decision. If its own emergency response resources are currently tied up, a request may also be declined.
Operational-Tactical Significance (Map: Courtesy of CESCI / Kindly provided by Siegfried Weinert)
A tangible benefit is evident in emergency calls that, due to cellular network routing, are routed to a neighboring country: instead of rejecting the caller, the accessible dispatch center records the information and forwards it directly via digital means to the dispatch center with territorial jurisdiction. This saves valuable time, reduces transmission and comprehension errors, and helps overcome language barriers. The caller therefore does not need to worry about which dispatch center on which side of the border is responsible. They report their emergency—further coordination takes place within the emergency medical services system.
Once the implementation agreements are finally signed, can a smooth workflow between the dispatch centers and emergency medical services be guaranteed? What practical experience has been gained from previous projects?
There is never a guarantee of absolute smoothness—no two emergencies are alike, and the human factor always plays a role. However, agreements create the framework for remaining capable of taking action.
Technically, direct, standardized data transmission is crucial for overcoming language barriers. But technology alone is not enough: emergency responders must be familiar with their neighbors’ systems.
This understanding does not come from paperwork, but through joint exercises, reciprocal visits, and real-world operational experience.
We need to get to know one another before we urgently need each other in a crisis situation.
Cross-Border Operation — Lower Austrian emergency physician at Znaim Hospital with the Czech emergency medical services (Photo: Courtesy of Siegfried Weinert)
Concrete figures are already available from the Czech-Austrian cooperation. Can similar case numbers and levels of cooperation be projected for Hungary?
I would not project specific case numbers for Hungary at this time, as they depend on many factors, such as settlement patterns and traffic flows. But the goal is not a quota. The basic principle is:
The fastest-available, appropriate emergency response resource should provide assistance—regardless of which country it comes from.
The devastating tornado in South Moravia in 2021 proved that well-coordinated structures hold up even during major disasters: Lower Austria was on the scene within a very short time with 42 Red Cross ambulances, a mobile command center from Lower Austria Emergency Hotline, and two ÖAMTC emergency medical helicopters, and flew seriously injured patients to Vienna. At a moment like that, you cannot afford to start clarifying responsibilities first.
Cross-border deployment of Lower Austrian emergency services in South Moravia—2021 tornado (Photo: Courtesy of Siegfried Weinert)
Following the elections in Hungary, there were personnel changes among the key contacts. What practical tasks do you now face as you resume discussions, and how do you assess the pace of the current negotiations?
In projects like these, personnel continuity and trust are essential. When personnel changes occur, new contacts must be established and the current status of the work communicated. I see my role not as reinventing the wheel, but as building on the work that has already been done. I would not make any bold predictions about the pace, but active dialogue is crucial. The initial feedback has made me very optimistic.
What framework conditions or steps on the part of the Hungarian authorities would now be most important to bring the agreement to life quickly and sustainably?
In my view, clear lines of responsibility and reliable points of contact are essential.
The next milestone is the conclusion of the cooperation agreement between the state of Lower Austria and the Hungarian Ministry of Health.
This will be followed by coordination between the emergency dispatch centers: Who alerts whom? What emergency resources are deployed? Where is the patient taken? These procedures must be formally established and rehearsed.
In your view, how important is diplomatic cooperation for the development and practical implementation of cross-border cooperation in emergency medical services? What role do embassies and personal contacts between the participating countries play in this regard?
Diplomacy is indispensable. While emergency medical services involve practical work, they require political backing. Embassies serve as indispensable bridge-builders when discussions at the technical level stall.
These contacts are also valuable from an operational standpoint: During the COVID pandemic, we were in contact with the Czech Embassy—sometimes several times a day—to find out in real time whether border checkpoints were passable for emergency vehicles. An international treaty provides only the framework—it comes to life through people who talk to one another.
Edit Szilágyiné Bátorfi, Hungarian Ambassador to Austria (L), with Siegfried Weinert of Lower Austria Emergency Hotline (courtesy of Siegfried Weinert)
What role did Hungary play in the development and expansion of cross-border cooperation in emergency medical services between Austria and its neighboring countries? Was there a specific starting point that sparked the subsequent negotiations with Hungary and Slovakia
A key catalyst was a CESCI conference in Budapest in 2019. I had the opportunity to present Lower Austria’s experiences with the Czech Republic there. The response showed that the model could set a precedent. These impulses and discussions ultimately led to Austria’s framework agreements with Slovakia and Hungary.
How do you see the future of cross-border cooperation in emergency medical services? In your view, is there potential to expand the agreements—which are still predominantly regulated bilaterally—to the European level in the long term, thereby creating more uniform framework conditions for cross-border emergency medical services in Europe?
The idea is constantly evolving: the Czech Republic and Slovakia have signed agreements, and a Slovak-Hungarian treaty is in the works. In addition, in December 2025, the Austrian Parliament unanimously resolved to pursue negotiations with all remaining neighboring countries based on this model.
Bilateral agreements are a realistic interim step, but in the long term, a European solution with uniform framework conditions is needed.
After all, emergencies do not respect political borders. The guiding principle remains: “Borders Divide – Emergency Care Unites.”
Featured image: Photo: C9/courtesy of Siegfried Weinert
The post Borderless Lifesavers: How Austria and Hungary Come Together in an Emergency appeared first on Hungary Today.
Borderless Lifesavers: How Austria and Hungary Come Together in an Emergency 2026
IUSTITIA.BG – Investigations 2009-2026 2026-09-28 11:07:56
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