Austria to tighten checks at border

VIENNA: Austria will introduce tougher border controls at the Brenner Pass crossing with Italy from June 1 at the latest as part of its tough response to the EU migration crisis, Defence Minister Hans Peter Doskozil said on Tuesday.

With border restrictions along the Balkan route, Vienna expects migrant arrivals to Italy by sea to nearly double this year to 300,000, but both countries have said they would keep traffic across the border "fluid" at busy times.

The Brenner Pass, which links Austria and Italy, is the most important Alpine crossing for heavy goods traffic.

Asked if Austria planned to build a fence at the border, he referred to a system "similar to the one in Spielfeld" at Austria’s border with Slovenia, which consists of fences, lanes and tents.

The exact date for the introduction of stricter controls at the European North-South crossing depends on the number of migrants and the progress of construction work of the new border control centre, Doskozil said, adding such work had started.

The European Commission was very concerned, according to a spokeswoman.

"If these plans were to materialise, then we would have to look at them very seriously. The Brenner Pass is essential for the freedom of movement within the European Union," commission spokeswoman Natasha Bertaud told a regular briefing.

EU executive had not been informed and had learned about them from media reports, she said.

A spokesman for Tyrol police said on Monday that current building work merely consisted of laying the foundations for part of the site. Italy’s European Affairs Minister Sandro Gozi criticised the Austrian plan in a statement.