, 05/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - Austria found guilty in Case C/75/11. In a ruling on 4 October in Case C/75/11, the European Court of Justice agrees with the European Commission that by granting reduced public transport fares only to students whose parents are in receipt of family allowance, Austria violates the principal of equal treatment for EU citizens, as laid down in Article 18 of the EU treaty, and the right of free circulation and freedom of residence (Articles 20 and 21 of the treaty and EU Directive 2004/38/EC). The reduced fares are not usually available to students from other EU countries studying in Austria because their families usually live abroad and do not receive Austrian family allowances, but EU students from any country should have the same conditions and grants as Austrians, the only exception possible being for student grants to cover living expenses. The Commission welcomed the ruling, in which the Court states that a strict view must be taken of exceptions to the rule. Reduced fares are not a loan or a grant and must therefore be available to students from other member states. (FG/transl.fl)