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Two Tyrols pushed further apart? Austria plans fence on Brenner border
Austria seeks to restrict arrival of migrants, refugees · President of South Tyrol tells Vienna and Rome a solution is needed to avoid new "division" of Tyrol and Europe
Fence preparations have been announced by the chief of North Tyrol’s provincial police force Helmut Tomac , who however recalled that the final decision will depend on the "cooperation of the Italians." That is, the fence might not be erected if the Italian government further restricts arrivals of migrants and refugees to the Brennerpass.
The announcement comes just days after far-right candidate Norbert Hofer (FPÖ) won the first round of the Austrian presidential election. The second round will take place on May 22th. Hofer will be facing independent candidate -affilated to the Greens- Alexander Van der Bellen.
Meanwhile, the Austrian Parliament yesterday passed a new law that restricts the right of asylum in the Alpine country. Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka argues Austria had no other option because "so many other EU members fail to do their part" to limit migrant and refugee flows to the country.
But according to Amnesty International, the law "undermines the very principle of protection from war and persecution", and treats people " fleeing conflict and persecution as a threat to national security."
South Tyrolean government call for solution
Brenner is one of the most important mountain passes in the Alps, essential to north-south connections between central Europe and the Italian peninsula.
South Tyrol President Arno Kompatscher (SVP, centre-right) says that "demands" from Austria and Germany to halt migrant and refugee flows northwards are "legitimate," but implementing measures such as the erection of fences should be avoided: "This one is a highly symbolic border. At first it represented the division, and then the EU internal union."
South Tyrol-North Tyrol cultural, educational and economic links run deep. Both countries share a common past, the German language and a Euroregion. "We want to avoid the negative impact on tourism in the area," Kompatscher further says.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (PD, centre-left), says the fence would be a "violation of EU rules." Renzi argues too that "over the first four months of this year, the number of migrants arriving in Italy is lower than in 2014, and is essentially equal to 2015".