Italy summons Austrian ambassador over threat of border controls

News sources reported on the 4 July 2017 that Italy's foreign ministry summoned the Austrian ambassador after Austria had suggested on the 3 July 2017 that it was considering introducing border controls to block migrants from passing between the two countries, and might deploy troops at the Brenner Pass.

Austria had in 2016 threatened various actions such as planning to build a fence at its border with Italy for protection in the event of an upsurge in migrant numbers.

Commentators noted that Austria was due to hold a general election on the 15 October 2017 in which the anti-immigration far-right was forecast to do well.

On the 28 June 2017 the Italian Government had asked its ambassador in Brussels, Maurizio Massari, to formally present a request to the European Commission for help and express its inability to cope alone with the on-going migration crisis.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Austria passes tougher asylum law to restrict refugees http://www.europeansources.info/record/austria-passes-tougher-asylum-law-to-restrict-refugees/

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

BBC News, 04.07.17: Italy-Austria tension over border troops at Brenner Pass http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-40491497

Deutsche Welle, 04.07.17: Austria ready to deploy 750 soldiers on Italian border if migrant influx doesn’t slow http://p.dw.com/p/2frzx

Euro|Topics: Debates, July 2017: Refugees: Vienna to send troops to Brenner Pass http://www.eurotopics.net/en/181985/refugees-vienna-to-send-troops-to-brenner-pass

The Guardian, 04.07.17: Austrian troops to stop migrants crossing border with Italy https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/04/austrian-troops-to-stop-migrants-crossing-border-with-italy

EurActiv, 05.07.17: Tensions grow after Austrian threat to send troops to Italian border http://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/tensions-grow-after-austrian-threat-to-send-troops-at-italian-border/

EUObserver, 04.07.17: Austrian military set to stop Italy migrants https://euobserver.com/migration/138425

Politico, 05.07.17: Austrian interior ministry: no need for troops on Italian border http://www.politico.eu/article/austrian-interior-ministry-no-need-for-troops-on-italian-border/

EurActiv, 06.07.17: Austria backs down on Italy border troop threat http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/austria-backs-down-on-italy-border-troop-threat/

The Local.at, 06.07.17: No need for border controls with Italy, says Austria https://www.thelocal.at/20170706/no-need-for-border-controls-with-italy-says-austria

EUObserver, 17.07.17: Austria readies for migrant border surge https://euobserver.com/migration/138555

The Local.at, 22.07.17: Italy: We won't accept 'threats' from Austria on border security https://www.thelocal.at/20170722/italy-we-wont-accept-threats-from-austria-on-border-security

The Local.at, 21.07.17: Keep migrants off mainland, Austria tells Italy https://www.thelocal.at/20170721/keep-migrants-off-mainland-austria-tells-italy

The Local.it. 10.08.17: Austria reinforces army presence and control on Italian border https://www.thelocal.it/20170810/austria-reinforces-army-presence-and-control-on-italian-border

EUObserver, 17.08.17: Austrian soldiers to stop migrants from Italy https://euobserver.com/migration/138754

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