German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday urged European leaders to protect external EU borders or they risk a "return to nationalism".
The defense of the borders is a great challenge for the future of Europe "from the Mediterranean to the North Pole", the German leader said, at the joint press conference with the Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi
Merkel said that Europe's cherished freedom of movement is at threat, as the continent battles its worst migration crisis since World War II, and it jeopardizes the passportfree Schengen zone.
Renzi said that Italy and Germany are strongly against the Austrian plan to build a fence on its border with Italy.
He strongly disagrees with the position of Austria, describing Vienna's position as "anachronistic".
"This is the wrong attitude even if there is a migrant crisis", he said.
Austria said that it is planning to build up a fence at the Brenner pass, which separates it from Italy in order to canalize the people, as it is a key transport corridor for the migrants.
Renzi who fears a new wave of migrants in Italy, stressed the need for "a strategy for Africa" after the closure of the Balkan route and reaching the agreement between Turkey and EU to stem the influx from the Aegean Sea.