Patients as EU citizens? The implementation and corporatist stakeholders’ perceptions of the EU cross-border health care directive in Austria

•This study analyses the implementation of Directive 2011/24/EU in Austria.•It examines corporatist stakeholders’ positions towards the Directive throughout the policy process.•Despite national law facilitating cross-border care, Austria's reservation towards the Directive persists.•Austria remains restrictive in applying the Directive seven years after its transposition.