Politics
21:23, 04-Jul-2017
Italy summons Austrian ambassador over planned border controls
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Italy's foreign ministry summoned the Austrian ambassador on Tuesday after Vienna said it was likely to introduce border controls to stop migrants passing between the two countries, Reuters reported.
The summons came hours after Austrian Defense Minister Hans Peter Doskozil said earlier on Tuesday that the country had moved four armored vehicles close to its border with Italy to guard against migrants and will likely set up controls on a key trade crossing "very soon."
The planned controls will include the busy Alpine Brenner pass, a defense ministry spokesman said, a move that Italy warned last year would break EU rules on free movement.
Italy has taken in more than 80,000 refugees and migrants so far this year, most of whom arrived by boat from Africa, making Italy the main point of entry to Europe.
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